Oklahoma City Thunder (31-13) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (26-18)
January 26, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans -1.5; Over/Under: +239.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New Orleans Pelicans play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Smoothie King Center on Friday night. Here’s a Pelicans vs Thunder Prediction.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been in fine form as they’ve won eight of their last 10 games overall and they will be aiming for a fifth straight victory after blowing past the Spurs in a 140-114 road win on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 32 points and 10 assists, Chet Holmgren added 17 points with nine rebounds and four assists while Aaron Wiggins provided the spark off the bench with 22 points on nine of 11 shooting. As a team, the Thunder shot 56 percent from the field and 18 of 40 from the 3-point line as they made this one look easy from the start, setting the tone with 35 points in the first quarter, before they exlpoded for 77 points in the second half to make it a complete blowout victory.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Facts
- The underdogs have won eight of the Thunder’s last nine games at Smoothie King Center.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Thunder’s last nine games at Smoothie King Center.
- Each of the Thunder’s last nine games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in decent shape as they’ve won nine of their last 13 games and they will be eager to keep it going after making light work of the Jazz in a 153-124 win on Tuesday. CJ McCollum led the team with 33 points on 11 of 17 shooting, Herbert Jones added 22 points on eight of nine shooting, Brandon Ingram tallied 18 points while Zion Williamson chipped in with 17 points and 11 assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot 57 percent from the field and a sizzling 23 of 46 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 43 points in the second quarter to take a 18-point lead into halftime which only grew in the second half where the 3-pointers just kept coming. The Pelicans will face the Bucks after this game.
New Orleans Pelicans Team Facts
- The underdogs have won eight of the last nine games between the Thunder and Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the last nine games between the Thunder and Pelicans.
- Eight of the Pelicans’ last nine night games on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone UNDER the total points line.
Pelicans vs Thunder Prediction
The Thunder have been playing some of their best basketball of the season lately and they just blew past the lowly Spurs in a dominant win on Wednesday, while the Pelicans are coming into this one fresh off their best win of the season after putting up 153 points against the Jazz. You can make an argument for either side here, but the Pelicans won by 110-106 back on Nov 1 and I’m expecting a similar result here with the Pelicans winning in a close one at home.
