The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will look to maintain the stress on the New Orleans Pelicans once they meet in Sport 3 of their Western Convention first-round collection on Saturday. Oklahoma Metropolis cruised to a 124-92 win in Wednesday’s sport to take a 2-0 lead on this 2024 NBA playoffs collection. The Thunder, the highest seed within the West, completed 13-5 towards Southwest Division foes through the common season, going 2-1 towards New Orleans. The Pelicans (49-33), the eighth seed, had been 9-8 towards the Northwest Division. Zion Williamson (hamstring) stays out for New Orleans.
The sport from Smoothie King Heart in New Orleans will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET. Oklahoma Metropolis averaged 120.1 factors per sport through the season, third-best within the NBA, whereas New Orleans averaged 115.1, Thirteenth-best. OKC is a 1.5-point favourite within the newest Thunder vs. Pelicans odds from SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/below for complete factors scored is 210. Earlier than making any Pelicans vs. Thunder picks, you may need to see the NBA predictions and betting recommendation from the confirmed laptop mannequin at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Mannequin simulates each NBA sport 10,000 occasions and has returned effectively over $10,000 in revenue for $100 gamers on its top-rated NBA picks over the previous five-plus seasons. The mannequin enters the second week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a scorching 90-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning greater than $2,800. Anybody following has seen enormous returns.
Now, the mannequin has set its sights on Pelicans vs. Thunder and simply locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You possibly can head to SportsLine now to see the mannequin’s picks. Listed below are a number of NBA odds and betting strains for Thunder vs. Pelicans:
- Pelicans vs. Thunder unfold: Oklahoma Metropolis -1.5
- Pelicans vs. Thunder over/below: 210 factors
- Pelicans vs. Thunder cash line: Oklahoma Metropolis -120, New Orleans +100
- NO: The Pelicans have hit the first-half cash line in 55 of their final 82 video games (+25.30 models)
- OKC: The Thunder have hit the cash line in 56 of their final 78 video games (+18.60 models)
- Pelicans vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cowl
Heart Chet Holmgren has come to play this collection. In Sport 1, he registered a double-double with 15 factors and 11 rebounds, with 5 blocks and two assists. He adopted that up with a 26-point effort with seven rebounds and two blocks in Wednesday’s large win over the Pelicans. In three regular-season video games towards New Orleans, Holmgren averaged 18.3 factors, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists and two blocks in 33.7 minutes.
Guard Luguentz Dort is a reliable contributor on offense as effectively. In 79 video games through the common season, all begins, he averaged 10.9 factors, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28.4 minutes. He’s coming off a 15-point, two-assist effort in Wednesday’s win. In 13 profession video games towards New Orleans, Dort is averaging 10.6 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one steal in half-hour of motion. See which group to choose right here.
Why the Pelicans can cowl
Guard CJ McCollum has performed effectively towards the Thunder this season. In three regular-season video games, he averaged 21.3 factors, whereas including 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 37.7 minutes. He poured in 20 factors within the Sport 1 loss, whereas including six assists and three boards. He had 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in Wednesday’s loss. He registered two double-doubles through the common season.
Small ahead Brandon Ingram has reached double-digit scoring in every of his final 10 video games, together with a 24-point efficiency in a 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings within the April 19 play-in sport. He additionally added six boards and 6 assists. He’s coming off an 18-point, four-rebound and three-assist effort in Wednesday’s Sport 2 loss. Ingram has performed effectively towards the Thunder all through his profession. In 19 profession video games towards Oklahoma Metropolis, he’s averaging 16.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds and three.9 assists in 30.4 minutes. See which group to choose right here.
Easy methods to make Pelicans vs. Thunder picks
SportsLine’s mannequin is leaning Over on the purpose complete, projecting the groups to mix for 214 factors. The mannequin additionally says one aspect of the unfold hits over 50% of the time. You possibly can solely get the mannequin’s decide at SportsLine.
So who wins Pelicans vs. Thunder, and which aspect hits in over 50% of simulations? Go to SportsLine now to see which aspect of the unfold to leap on, all from the superior mannequin that has returned greater than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and discover out.