The New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder meet in Game 1 of a best-of-7 Western Conference 1st-round series Sunday. Tip from Paycom Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Pelicans vs. Thunder odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Thunder lead 2-1
New Orleans snapped a 2-Game losing streak with a 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings in a Western Conference play-in Game Friday while covering as a 1.5-point home favorite. F Brandon Ingram scored a team-high 24 points, while C Jonas Valanciunas (19 points and 12 rebounds) had a double-double. The Pelicans shot 51.8% from the field in the win.
The Thunder ended their regular season on a 5-game winning streak after knocking off the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 Sunday and covering as 19.5-point favorites. G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 15 points, and 7 Thunder players scored in double figures. Oklahoma City shot 55.7% from the field in the win.
Pelicans at Thunder odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:54 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pelicans +280 (bet $100 to win $280) | Thunder -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans +8.5 (-115) | Thunder -8.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 215.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Pelicans at Thunder key injuries
Pelicans
- F Zion Williamson (hamstring) out
Thunder
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Pelicans at Thunder picks and predictions
Prediction
Thunder 114, Pelicans 102
Moneyline
PASS.
There is no value on the Thunder (-350), who are 33-8 at home this season.
Against the spread
BET THUNDER -8.5 (-105).
The Pelicans are without Williamson, who leads the team with 22.9 points per game.
They face a Thunder squad that has covered in 4 games in a row, including 3 straight as favorites of 14 or more points. OKC has covered in its last 5 games at home and scored 125 or more in each of its last 3.
Over/Under
BET OVER 215.5 (-110).
The Pelicans are 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10 games. They have scored 106 or more points in 9 of their last 10 games and 110 or more in 4 of their last 7.
The Thunder have hit the Over in 6 of their last 10 games and scored 121 or more points in 4 of their last 5. They have scored 112 or more points in 8 of their last 10 games.
For more Sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @seth_orlemann on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Spurs Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
