Golden State Warriors vs New Orleans Pelicans 05/03/2021 NBA Odds, Preview, and Prediction

The Golden State Warriors travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Monday night.

Golden State snapped a two-game losing streak by blowing out the hapless Houston Rockets on Saturday night. The Dubs are currently in 9th place in the Western Conference team standings, three games up on the 11th seeded Pelicans. New Orleans is trying to catch the last bus to the postseason but right they are 2.5 games off the 10th seeded San Antonio Spurs.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors’ playoff chances are still alive after the Dubs blew out the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. At 32-32, Golden State is in 9th place in the Western Conference, good enough to make the play-in tournament where they will have a chance to sneak into the playoffs via the backdoor.

In their last game, Stephen Curry continued his red hot streak with another 30-point game. The Warriors’ two-time MVP poured in 23 of his scoring output in the third period where they outscored the Rockets by 27 points. Andrew Wiggins had 20 points and Jordan Poole 17 while Draymond Green had another all-around effort with 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Golden State ranks 14th in the league in scoring at 112.9 points per game scored this season. They are the best passing team in the league at 27.5 assists per contest but are just 24th off the glass at 42.9 rebounds per game. The Warriors are also only 21st in scoring defense, allowing their opponents to score 113.0 points per outing.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are trying to make one last postseason push. The Pelicans are 11th in the West with a 29-35 and with 8 games left to play, they need to catch up with the San Antonio Spurs who are 2.5 games ahead of them in the team standings. New Orleans has dropped just three games in their last 10 assignments but it may be a case of a little too late with less than 10 games left to play.

Zion Williamson is leading the late charge by the Pelicans, averaging 27.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in his last 10 games. Zion had 37 in their OT win over the T-Wolves on Saturday night while Lonzo Ball scored a career-high 33 points on 8 three-pointers. Willy Hernangomez added 12 points and 12 boards for the Pelicans who kept themselves alive in the playoff hunt.

New Orleans is the 5th best scoring team in the NBA at 115.3 points per game scored and they have the 6th worst scoring defense in the league at 115.1 points per game conceded. The Pelicans are the third-best rebounding team in the league at 47.1 boards grabbed per contest. New Orleans is also 9th in passing at 26.2 assists per game.

Golden State is 8-4 SU in their last 12 games played. The Warriors are 4-3 SU in their last seven games played on the road, and 6-2 SU in their last eight games against the Western Conference. New Orleans is 4-2 SU in their last six games played. The Pelicans are 1-3 SU in their last four games played at home, and 5-1 SU in their last six games against the Pacific division. Head to head, the Warriors are 16-4 SU in their last 20 games played against the Pelicans. Golden State is also 17-3 SU in their last 20 games played in New Orleans.

Steph Curry continues to do Steph Curry things but with Kelly Oubre Jr. compromised, Golden State’s depth takes yet another hit. I don’t think Golden State can contain Zion here. Give me the home team to pull off the win.

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans

Other Bets To Make

The Warriors are 2-4 ATS in their last six games played. Golden State is 13-21 ATS in 34 road games played this season, and 4-1 ATS in their last five Monday games. The Dubs are 0-4 ATS in their last four games after a straight-up win, and 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games against an opponent with a winning home record.

The Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in their last six games played. New Orleans is 15-18 ATS in 33 home games played this season, and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall against the Western Conference. They are also 4-0 ATS in their last four games after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game, 24-9 in their last 33 Monday games, and 4-1 ATS in their last five games when playing on one day rest.

Head to head, the Pelicans are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Warriors, including 2-1 in their most recent three meetings.

New Orleans has won three out of its last four games in a last ditch effort to try and make up a 2.5 games deficit against the 10th seeded Spurs. Golden State is in 9th place and will make the play-in tournament if it started today. Both teams are in dire straits but New Orleans needs this win more than Golden State does. As stated above, Zion Williamson is on a roll right now and the Warriors don’t have the frontline to stop him.

Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans -2

The total has gone under in five out of the last seven games played by the Warriors. The under is 14-6 in Golden State’s last 20 games played on the road, and 6-2 in their last eight games against the Southwest Division. The Warriors have seen the total go under in each of their last six Monday games. The under is 5-1 in their last six games when playing on one day rest.

The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played by the Pelicans. New Orleans has seen the total go under in four out of their last six home games. The under is also 7-2 in the Pelicans’ last nine games played on May, 35-16 in their last 51 games after a straight-up win, and 4-1 in their last five Monday games.

Head to head, the total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams, including 3-0 in their last three meetings.

Both teams are capable of lighting up the scoreboards with plenty of scorers from both sides. However, Golden State will be without key contributor Kelly Oubre Jr. who is averaging 15.4 points per game this season. I expect a playoff-type game with the Pelicans fighting for their survival. Give me both teams to play defense here.

Prediction: Under 237

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