The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when they battle the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans in Game 3 of their 2024 NBA playoffs first-round matchup on Saturday. The Thunder (57-25), who are coming off a 124-92 win in Game 2, have won four of five meetings with New Orleans this season. The Pelicans (49-33), who have lost four of their last five games, have played well on the road in 2023-24, going 28-14. OKC went 36-16 within the conference during the regular season, while New Orleans was 30-22. Zion Williamson (hamstring) remains out for New Orleans.
Tip-off from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Oklahoma City leads the all-time series 44-32, including a 2-0 edge in the playoffs. The Thunder are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Thunder vs. Pelicans odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 209.5. 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 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: 209.5 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
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has blistered the Pelicans in the first two games of the series. In Game 1, he poured in 28 points and added six rebounds and four assists. He followed that up with 33 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals on Wednesday. In 75 games during the regular season, all starts, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes.
Also helping power Oklahoma City is forward Jalen Williams. He has scored in double figures in both postseason matchups, including a 21-point, seven-assist and five-rebound effort in the 32-point win in Game 2. He had 19 points, seven boards and four assists in the series opener. During the regular season, he played in 71 games, all starts, averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 assists and four rebounds in 31.3 minutes. He connected on 54% of his shots from the floor, including a blistering 42.7% from 3-point range. 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 213 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pelicans vs. Thunder, and which side has all of the value? 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.
