Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (44-27)
March 26, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +1.5; Over/Under: +228
(Get latest betting odds)
The Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans meet Tuesday in the NBA action at the Smoothie King Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Thunder vs Pelicans prediction.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been in great form as they’ve won seven of their last nine games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this spot after having their four-game win streak halted by the Bucks in a 118-93 road defeat on Sunday. Josh Giddey led the team with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Jalen Williams added 18 points on eight of 15 shooting while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in with 12 points but no other player scored more than eight points. As a team, the Thunder shot just 37 percent from the field and 10 of 43 from the 3-point line as they played great defense to keep the Bucks in check in the first half, only to get completely blown out by 70-46 in the second half as they just had no answer for the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo who barely missed all night.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in red-hot form as they’ve won nine of their last 11 games overall and they will be eager to stay hot after taking down the lowly Pistons in a 114-101 road win on Sunday. Zion Williamson led the team with 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 13 of 14 shooting, CJ McCollum added 23 points with seven assists while Naji Marshall chipped in with 14 points off the bench. As a team, the Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field and 11 of 34 from the 3-point line, but this win was more about their effort on defense as they were always in control after restricting the Pistons to a miserly 10 points in the first quarter. The only blemish from the otherwise dominant victory was the play of Trey Murphy who shot just one of 12 from the field and zero of nine from the 3-point line. The Pels are top of the Southwest with a 44-27 record, two games ahead of the Mavericks.
New Orleans Pelicans Team Facts
- The road team has won each of the last six games between the Thunder and Pelicans.
- The road team has covered the spread in each of the last seven games between the Thunder and Pelicans.
- Seven of the Pelicans’ last eight games as home underdogs against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Facts
- The underdogs have won eight of the Thunder’s last 10 games at Smoothie King Center.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last eight games at Smoothie King Center.
- Six of the Thunder’s last seven road games following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
Thunder vs Pelicans prediction
The Pelicans are going to be shorthanded once again with Brandon Ingram still out, while the Thunder are coming into this one with a full squad once again. The Thunder were one of the hottest teams in the league before they got stopped in their tracks by the Bucks in their last outing while the Pelicans are playing some of their best basketball of the season, despite missing Ingram from the lineup. This is a close call, but I think the Thunder bounce back in this one after getting embarrassed in their last outing.
