New Orleans Pelicans (49-33) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 4/24/24 – As the NBA Playoffs heat up, Wednesday April 24, 2024 will feature an exciting first round matchup between New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished their regular season record at 49-33 and finished as winners at 57-25 respectively. Set to take place at Paycom Center this game promises high stakes action – perfect for anyone searching for NBA Playoffs free picks.
The Pelicans have shown stellar play this season, averaging 115.1 points per game with an excellent field goal percentage of 48.6% and 3-point shooting at 38.3% on 32.6 attempts per game; free throw accuracy stands at 77.11% respectively; they excelled in rebounding, pulling down an average 44 per game; they showed strong defensive abilities with 8.3 steals and 4.6 blocks; however their 12.4 turnovers per game could prove problematic against an athletic Thunder team.
The Thunder, on the other hand, have outscored their opponent with an average score of 120.1 per game and slightly better field goal percentage at 49.9%. They boast impressive three-point shooting abilities with 13.3 threes made per game at 38.9% rate while their free throw shooting performance stands out with an 82.5% success rate. Defensively they average more blocks (6.6) but less steals (8.5 per game), showing their unique defensive strategy when compared with that of Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 4/24/24 Game Info
| When: | Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Paycom Center |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Brandon Ingram (SF) vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG)
Brandon Ingram has been one of the Pelicans’ cornerstone players over 64 games, averaging 20.8 points and 5.7 assists per contest despite some defensive vulnerabilities that remain. Ingram can combine scoring with playmaking making him a multifaceted threat; his abilities make him both effective offensively as well as defensively.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard of the Thunder, has recorded 30.1 points per game this season and averaged an impressive 6.22 assists to go along with two steals and 0.9 blocks per contest on defense. Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance has been key in providing them with an edge both offensively and defensively, which contributes to their success overall.
When Ingram and Gilgeous-Alexander meet on the court, their performances could determine its pace and outcome. While Ingram relies heavily on his all-around play to match Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring and defensive prowess, Gilgeous-Alexander may opt to dominate with scoring while disrupting defense as his weaponry. As these battles play out on court, their performances could determine its pace and outcome.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
Betting odds and point spreads have yet to be set in this tight contest; however, understanding recent performance trends and key player matchups will provide invaluable information when odds become available for betting decisions.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends
The Pelicans have recently shown strong performance, going 4-1 over their past five games and boast a 23-17 mark against the spread in road games, both indicators that bode well against this road game setting. Yet their recent totals have shown some variability: only two out of the past five went over.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends
The Thunder are in fine form, winning their last five straight and covering the spread in four of those contests. Even their less impressive record against the spread in road games (19-21) won’t hurt them here at home where they typically perform strongly; totals trends mirror Pelicans with two of five matches going over.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 4/24/24 Betting Picks
Given their strong finish to the season and home performance, the Thunder appear to be the more reliable pick here; however, given that Pelicans have shown they can match them competitively this may prove a close battle.
Consider picking Oklahoma City given their scoring efficiency and defensive stats when determining who will come out victorious in this matchup, particularly player performances of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who leads in points total. Over/Under will depend heavily on set line but also take into account recent trends of both teams; plus this game presents an ideal chance for professional sports analysis of matchups or individual performances.
Free Pick and Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 112, New Orleans Pelicans 108.