The eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans open their Western Conference first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Pelicans (49-33) will be without leading scorer Zion Williamson with a left hamstring strain. After losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 110-106 on Tuesday, New Orleans rebounded with a 105-98 win over Sacramento to secure the final playoff spot in the conference. The Pelicans are in the postseason for the first time since losing in six games to Phoenix in the first round of the 2021-2022 playoffs. The Thunder (57-25), who finished as the 10th-seed last season, won 17 more games this year to win the Northwest Division and beat out the defending champion Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the West.
Tip-off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. The Thunder are 8-point favorites in the latest Pelicans vs. Thunder odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 215.5. Before making any Thunder vs. Pelicans 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 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 88-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following it 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 -8
- Pelicans vs. Thunder over/under: 214.5 points
- Pelicans vs. Thunder money line: New Orleans +275, Oklahoma City -348
- NO: The Pelicans are 6-0 in their last six games on the road
- OKC: The Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their past five games
- Pelicans vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cover
Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helps power the Oklahoma City offense. In 75 games, all starts, he is averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes of action. He is just the third player in NBA history to average at least 30-plus points and two-plus steals while shooting 50% or better from the field, joining Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan. Gilgeous-Alexander shot 53.5% from the floor.
Forward Jalen Williams, the Thunder's first-round pick in 2022, continues his solid play. In 71 games, all starts, he is averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.1 steals in 31.3 minutes. He has played well against the Pelicans in three games this year, scoring 19.7 points, while dishing out five assists and grabbing 4.7 rebounds. He has reached double-digit scoring in 12 of his past 13 games, including a 33-point, eight-assist, four-rebound and two-steal performance in a 113-112 win at New York on March 31. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pelicans can cover
Without Williamson, New Orleans will look to small forward Brandon Ingram to carry a heavier load. The team's second-leading scorer is averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 64 games, all starts. He has two double-doubles and one triple-double on the year. In a 132-112 win over Charlotte on Jan. 17, he scored 28 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists.
Also being counted on to provide more offense is shooting guard C.J. McCollum. In 66 games, all starts, he is averaging 20 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32.7 minutes. McCollum is connecting on 45.9% of his field goals, including a blistering 42.9% from 3-point range, and 82.7% from the foul line. In three games against the Thunder during the regular season, he averaged 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. See which team to pick here.
How to make Thunder vs. Pelicans picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side hits in over 50% of simulations. 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 $2,600 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
