Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Spread: Thunder (-8)
Total: 216
Trends Against The Spread
| Thunder | vs. | Pelicans |
| 46-35-1 (56%) | All | 45-38-1 (54%) |
| 27-14 (65%) at home | Location | 24-17-1 (58%) on the road |
| 35-26 (57%) as favorite | Status | 20-11-1 (64%) as underdog or pick |
| 23-12 (65%) as home favorite | Location Status | 14-6-1 (70%) as road underdog |
| 2-1 (66%) | Head To Head | 1-2 (33%) |
Trends Against The Total
- OKC has hit the over 56% of the time this season.
- New Orleans has hit the over 43% of the time this season.
- The Thunder are 21-19-1 against the over at home this season.
- The Pelicans are 16-25-1 against the over on the road this season.
Team Stats
| TEAM | PTS | PA | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | TOV | STL | BLK | STRK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOP | 115.1 | 110.7 | 48.6 | 38.3 | 44.0 | 27.0 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 4.6 | L1 | 5-5 |
| OKC | 120.1 | 112.7 | 49.9 | 38.9 | 42.0 | 27.1 | 12.7 | 8.5 | 6.6 | W5 | 7-3 |
Injury Report
Thunder
- NONE
Pelicans
- Zion Williamson is OUT (strained left hamstring).
Series History
The Thunder are 2-1 against the New Orleans Pelicans so far this season (0-1 at home, 2-0 on the road).
Why the Thunder Will Cover (-8)
The Pelicans are without Zion Williamson for the foreseeable future, and without him, there’s not really a guy on the team that can just go get a bucket at any time. CJ McCollum can pop off in bursts, particularly because of his three-point shooting ability, but he hasn’t played well lately, and OKC is so well-rounded defensively that it’s going to take a lot from New Orleans to make this a game and really even a series. OKC is a heavy favorite not just in Game 1 but in the series as a whole, and I think the Thunder make a statement tonight with a double-digit victory.
Why the Game Will Hit the Over (216)
Both of these teams are pretty solid defensively, and 2 of the 3 regular season meetings were at 216 or below on the point total. With Zion missing, the Pelicans might struggle to score, but I expect plenty of points from the Thunder as the crowd in Loud City is going to be absolutely bonkers. I’m taking the over.
Staff Picks
On the Season
| Name | Moneyline | Spread | Over/Under |
| Matt | 46-33 | 40-38-1 | 33-45 |
| Zack | 57-25 | 43-38-1 | 39-43 |
| Craig | 49-19 | 35-32-1 | 29-38 |