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The New Orleans Pelicans play the back end of a back-to-back schedule in Oklahoma as they take on the OKC Thunder on Thursday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Davis On Injured List
The Pelicans have some catching up to do if they want to make the playoffs. But their bid has been derailed after star Anthony Davis is on the injured list with a finger injury that has kept him out of their last two games until possibly one or two more weeks. The Thunder lost to the Pistons 94-98 at home on Wednesday and they will fly to OKC to play the Thunder the next day.
New Orleans is the 3rd best scoring team in the league at 117.1 points per game. The Pelicans rank 4th in passing at 26.8 assists per game and 6th of the glass with 46.9 rebounds per contest. However, New Orleans has the fifth worst scoring defense in the NBA at 115.1 points per game allowed.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/24/19
Moneyline Odds: Pelicans +600, Thunder -800
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/24/19
Thunder Are Rolling
The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling right now with three straight victories. OKC is 29-18 on the season and in third spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, four games behind the top-ranked Golden State Warriors. The Thunder are also three games behind the Denver Nuggets in the battle for the Northwest Division.
The Thunder rank 6th in scoring at 114.0 points per game and they are also 3rd in rebounding with 47.9 boards per contest. However, Oklahoma City is just 22nd in passing at 22.9 assists per game and they are also 11th in scoring defense at 109.1 points per game allowed.
Who Wins?
New Orleans is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Pelicans are 3-4 SU in their last seven road games. Oklahoma City is 5-5 SU in their last five games played. The Thunder are 2-3 SU in their last five home games. Head to head, the Thunder are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings.
The Pelicans had a good start to the season but they’ve since fallen from grace. Anthony Davis’ injury only makes them a hard sell , even at plus money. Davis is the heart and soul of New Orleans and usually, he decides the fate of the team. Without him, New Orleans only has Jrue Holiday as its consistent source of offense.
OKC is 15-7 SU at home this season and the Pelicans are way below .500 mark on the road at 7-19. New Orleans is playing on back to back games and without Anthony Davis. Russell Westbrook and Paul George are too much for the Pelicans.
I’m picking the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the New Orleans Pelicans on 1/24/19.
Other Bets To Make
The Pelicans are 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. New Orleans is 3-3-1 ATS in their last seven road games played. The Thunder are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games and are 2-3 ATS in their last five games at home. Head to head, the Pelicans are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Thunder.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/24/19
Spread Odds: Pelicans +11.5 (-110), Thunder -11.5 (-110)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/24/19
The Pelicans are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Thursday games, 0-4 ATS in their last four games on zero days rest and 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Thunder are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games versus the Southwest and 4-1 ATS in their last seven meetings against the Pelicans in Oklahoma City. My pick is simple: No Anthony Davis for the Pelicans.
Prediction: Thunder -11.5
The total has gone over in six out of the last 10 games played by the Pelicans. New Orleans has seen the total go over in four out of their last seven road games. The total has gone over in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Thunder. The over is 4-1 in Oklahoma City’s last five home games. Head to head, the over is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder 1/24/19
Over/Under Odds: Over 238 -110, Under 238 -110
Odds from betonline.ag as of 1/24/19
The over is 7-1 in Oklahoma City’s last 8 games played while the total has gone over in seven out of the last nine games of the Pelicans when playing on zero days rest. I know the Thunder have leaned towards the over lately but that’s because their defense hasn’t played well as of late. New Orleans is without Anthony Davis and is playing on the second of a back to back schedule. OKC’s home games have averaged 223.2 total points. I think 238 is too high for both teams. I’m going with the under.
Prediction: Under 238
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