Pelicans vs. Thunder NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets

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11 April 2023

Pelicans vs. Thunder NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42) will look to secure an upset of CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans (42-40) on April 12, 2023. The Pelicans are a 5.5-point favorite. A 228-point over/under has been set for the matchup.

Pelicans vs. Thunder Odds

Pelicans odds to win: -221
Thunder odds to win: +183
Spread: Pelicans (-5.5)
Total: 228

Pelicans vs. Thunder Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

When: Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 9:30 PM ET
Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN

Who Will Win Pelicans vs. Thunder?

Pelicans and Thunder Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

The Pelicans have a 13-8-1 record against the spread when favored by 5.5 points or more this season.

The Thunder have a 16-9-1 record against the spread this year when an underdog by 5.5 points or more.

These teams average 231.9 points per game combined, 3.9 more than the over/under of 228.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 0.9 more points per game, 228.9, than this matchup’s total of 228 points.

The average point total in Pelicans games this year is 1.2 fewer points than the total of 228 in this matchup.

The average total for Oklahoma City’s games this season is 5.9 more points than the point total of 228 for this outing.

New Orleans is 39-41-2 against the spread this season.

The Thunder are 47-34-1 against the spread this season.

Pelicans Stats & Insights

The Pelicans have a +155 scoring differential, topping opponents by 1.9 points per game. They’re putting up 114.4 points per game to rank 15th in the league and are allowing 112.5 per contest to rank eighth in the NBA.

The Pelicans win the rebound battle by 1.9 boards on average. They record 43.7 rebounds per game, which ranks 12th in the league, while their opponents grab 41.8 per outing.

New Orleans makes 11 three-pointers per game (23rd in the league), 1.2 fewer than its opponents (12.2).

The Pelicans’ 111.8 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 19th in the NBA, and the 109.9 points they allow per 100 possessions rank sixth in the league.

So far in 2022-23, the Pelicans’ offense has been slightly better at home, where they score 114.9 points per game, compared to on the road, where they average 113.8 per game. Defensively, they have been much tougher when playing at home, where they allow 109.9 points per game, versus road games, where they let opponents to average 115 per game.

Thunder Stats & Insights

The Thunder put up 117.5 points per game (fifth in league) while giving up 116.4 per contest (19th in NBA). They have a +89 scoring differential and outscore opponents by 1.1 points per game.

Oklahoma City averages 43.7 rebounds per game (12th in league) while allowing 46.6 per contest to opponents. It is outrebounded by 2.9 boards per game.

The Thunder make 12.1 three-pointers per game (15th in the league), while their opponents have made 12.9 on average.

The Thunder rank 14th in the league averaging 112.3 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively are 11th, allowing 111.4 points per 100 possessions.

At home Oklahoma City is putting up 120.8 points per game, 6.7 more than it is averaging on the road (114.1).

Pelicans Key Players to Watch

The Pelicans active leader in points and assists this season is McCollum, who scores 20.9 points per game along with 5.7 assists.

Jonas Valanciunas’ averages this season are 14.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

McCollum makes more threes per game than any other (active) member of the Pelicans, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.8 per contest.

Herbert Jones picks pockets to the tune of 1.6 takeaways per game, while Valanciunas compiles 0.7 rejections per contest.