The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to keep the pressure on the New Orleans Pelicans when they meet in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series on Saturday. Oklahoma City cruised to a 124-92 win in Wednesday's game to take a 2-0 lead in this 2024 NBA playoffs series. The Thunder, the top seed in the West, finished 13-5 against Southwest Division foes during the regular season, going 2-1 against New Orleans. The Pelicans (49-33), the eighth seed, were 9-8 against the Northwest Division. Zion Williamson (hamstring) remains out for New Orleans.
The game from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET. Oklahoma City averaged 120.1 points per game during the season, third-best in the NBA, while New Orleans averaged 115.1, 13th-best. OKC is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Thunder vs. Pelicans odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 210. Before making any Pelicans vs. Thunder picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 90-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Pelicans vs. Thunder and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Thunder vs. Pelicans:
- Pelicans vs. Thunder spread: Oklahoma City -1.5
- Pelicans vs. Thunder over/under: 210 points
- Pelicans vs. Thunder money line: Oklahoma City -120, New Orleans +100
- NO: The Pelicans have hit the first-half money line in 55 of their last 82 games (+25.30 units)
- OKC: The Thunder have hit the money line in 56 of their last 78 games (+18.60 units)
- Pelicans vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cover
Center Chet Holmgren has come to play this series. In Game 1, he registered a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, with five blocks and two assists. He followed that up with a 26-point effort with seven rebounds and two blocks in Wednesday's big win over the Pelicans. In three regular-season games against New Orleans, Holmgren averaged 18.3 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists and two blocks in 33.7 minutes.
Guard Luguentz Dort is a dependable contributor on offense as well. In 79 games during the regular season, all starts, he averaged 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28.4 minutes. He is coming off a 15-point, two-assist effort in Wednesday's win. In 13 career games against New Orleans, Dort is averaging 10.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one steal in 30 minutes of action. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pelicans can cover
Guard CJ McCollum has played well against the Thunder this season. In three regular-season games, he averaged 21.3 points, while adding 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 37.7 minutes. He poured in 20 points in the Game 1 loss, while adding six assists and three boards. He had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in Wednesday's loss. He registered two double-doubles during the regular season.
Small forward Brandon Ingram has reached double-digit scoring in each of his last 10 games, including a 24-point performance in a 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings in the April 19 play-in game. He also added six boards and six assists. He is coming off an 18-point, four-rebound and three-assist effort in Wednesday's Game 2 loss. Ingram has played well against the Thunder throughout his career. In 19 career games against Oklahoma City, he is averaging 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 30.4 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Pelicans vs. Thunder picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 214 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pelicans vs. Thunder, and which side hits in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
