| New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction 11/13/24 | |
| When: | Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 7:30 pm |
| Where: | Paycom Center in OKC, OK, USA |
| TV: | NBA TV |
| New Orleans Pelicans Odds: | +14.5 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder Odds: | -14.5 |
| Over/Under | 223 |
In this Western matchup between two teams sitting on opposite sides of the conference table, the Oklahoma City Thunder are hosting the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans have been ravaged by injuries, as four of their starters are dealing with injuries. As a result, they are on a free fall in the past 10 days, going winless in that span. On the other hand, the Thunder are dealing with a significant injury themselves, as they saw their starting Center Chet Holmgren go down with a hip injury that will keep him off the court for two months.
Below is a detailed analysis for the New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder game.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report: Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Isiah Hartenstein and Nikola Topic are out for the Thunder
New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report: Zion Williamson, Jordan Hawkins, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray are out for the Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder Recent Form and Trends
The Oklahoma City Thunder has 9-2 record this season and are sitting in the first place of the West. The Thunder are 7-3-1 against the spread and 6-5 in over/under. OKC has a 5-1 home record and 3-3 against the spread, with a +11-point differential. Oklahoma City is 2-2 in their last 4 games, and 4-0 to the over.
The Thunder are coming off a 134-128 home victory against the Clippers, pushing the -6-point spread as the game went over the 219-point total. OKC got torched by the Clippers, who shot with 55% from the field and 54% from downtown, and also lost the battle of the boards with 29-47. Their key to victory was forcing the Clippers into 23 turnovers, and they were led in scoring by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with a season-high 45 points and a team-high 9 assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder both in scoring with 27.8 points, and in assists made with 6.5, adding 5.5 rebounds per game. Jalen Williams adds 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
New Orleans Pelicans Recent Form and Trends
The Pelicans have a 3-8 record this season and are tied with the Blazers on the 13th place of the West. New Orleans is 2-9 against the spread and 7-4 in over/under. The Pelicans are 1-4 on the road and 0-5 against the spread, with a -16-point differential. Pels are 1-8 in their last 9 games, and 1-9 against the spread in their last 10. Over is 4-2 in their last 6 games.
The Pelicans are coming off a 105-107 home loss against the Nets, not covering the spread and the game went over the 210-point total. New Orleans dominated Brooklyn in the paint, outscoring them 52-28, but played terrible perimeter defense, allowing the Nets to make 19 triples on 45% shooting. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans’ offense with 24 points, adding 5 rebounds and a team-high 9 assists.
Ingram leads the Pels in scoring with 22.9 points, adding 5.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Zion Williamson adds 22.7 points, 8 rebounds and 5.3 assists but he is out with an injury.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Thunder are scoring 117.4 points per game, good for 9th in the league. They shoot 46.6% from the field (19th) and 35.9% from beyond the arc (15th). Defensively, they are the best team in the NBA, allowing 100.2 points per game. OKC is 9th in offensive rating in the NBA with 114.5, and boast the best defensive rating with 102.6.
Offensively, the Pels average 107 points per game, which is just 25th in the NBA. They shoot 44.5% from the field (22nd) and 35.9% from beyond the arc (12th). Defensively, the Pels allow 116.5 points per game, which is just 23rd in the league. New Orleans is 22nd in offensive rating in the NBA with 109.4, and have the second-worse defensive rating with 119.3.
The Thunder led the Pels 6-1 wins last season, going for 5-2 against the spread. OKC is 8-1 in their last 9 meetings and 7-3 against the spread. Under is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings.
Prediction
In this New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, the Thunder are coming as big -14.5 home favorites, and rightfully so. They are undoubtedly the superior team this season and have dominated the Pels last season, sweeping them in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. OKC has been winning their opponents at home by 11 points on average, while the Pels are losing on the road by 16, so everything points out in a comfortable Thunder victory. Take the Oklahoma City Thunder and lay the points at home.
Nick’s Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder -14.5