The Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21) travel to face off against the New Orleans Pelicans (44-27) on Tuesday, March 26th. This game will be played at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and televised on WVUE. The Pelicans are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Thunder are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pistons. Tip-off is set for 8:00 ET.

Thunder vs Pelicans

The Thunder Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

In their latest game against the Bucks, Josh Giddey was the top scorer for the Thunder’s offense, scoring 19 points and shooting 7/12 from the field. Jalen Williams finished 2nd on the team with 18 points, but Oklahoma City ended the game with a 118-93 loss.

Heading into today’s matchup against the Pelicans, the Thunder are focused on adding to their overall record of 49-21. On the road, the Thunder have gone 21-14 this season compared to their 28-7 record at home.

Oklahoma City comes in with an overall ATS record of 41-29 so far this season. On the road, the Thunder have an ATS record of 19-16 compared to a 22-13 record vs. the spread at home.

The Pelicans Are Coming Off A Win

In their most recent game, the Pelicans took down the Pistons by a score of 114-101. As the second half got underway, the Pelicans were leading by a score of 57-41.

Coming into today’s matchup, the Pelicans are 44-27 and have gone 8-2 in their last ten games. At home, they are 20-13 compared to 24-14 on the road.

Presently, New Orleans boasts an ATS record of 39-31, which is above .500 against the spread. The Pelicans have been unable to cover the spread in their last two games as favorites, and they hold a 16-10 record against the spread when playing as underdogs.

Thunder Offense Breakdown

The Thunder arrive for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top offensive teams, scoring an average of 120.3 points per game (4th).

Heading into their game against the Pelicans, the Thunder have been one of the most efficient offenses in the league this season. They are currently 4th in scoring at 120.3 points per game, and they have scored at least the NBA average in 70% of their games.

When it comes to shooting, the Thunder have been excellent from two-point range. They are 6th in the league in two-point shooting at 56%. Overall, they are 3rd in field goal percentage at 49%.

One area where the Thunder have struggled is on the offensive glass. They are 29th in the league in offensive rebounds, which could be a factor against the Pelicans.

Pelicans Offense Breakdown

New Orleans has recorded an average of 115.7 points per game (13th) throughout 71 games games.

When playing at home, the Pelicans are averaging 116.6 points per game, which is 14th in the NBA. Overall, they are 13th in scoring at 115.7 points per game. In terms of pace, they are 18th in the league at 97.5 possessions per game.

So far this season, the Pelicans have made 49% of their field goal attempts, which is 8th in the NBA. In terms of two-point shooting, they are 12th at 55%. From beyond the arc, they are 8th in three-point shooting at 38%.

When it comes to free throws, the Pelicans are 8th in both attempts and makes. They are also 11th in assists and 15th in offensive rebounds.

Thunder Team Defense

The Thunder’s defense is presently ranked 12th in the league, allowing an average of 112.9 points per contest. In the terms of takeaways, Thunder are causing 11.6 turnovers per game, ranking 3rd in the league. They also enter the matchup ranked 1st in rejections, averaging 6.6 blocked shots each game.

Pelicans Team Defense

On defense, the Pelicans come into the game ranked 8th in the league in points allowed at 110.4 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 103.3 points per contest (16th). New Orleans’ defense is currently forcing 12.6 turnovers per game, which is 15th in the league. Additionally, they enter the game ranked 17th in blocked shots, with an average of 4.9 rejections per game.

Key Players For The Thunder And Pelicans

Our game forecasts for today suggest that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to be the main scorer for the Thunder, recording 30 points and shooting 10/20 from the field. During this season, he is delivering an average of 30.5 points per game, along with 5.6 rebounds.

On the flip side, our predictions place Zion Williamson as the leading scorer for the Pelicans. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 22 while also collecting 6 rebounds. For the season, he has a field goal percentage of 58.6% and is averaging 22.6 points per contest.

Thunder vs Pelicans Trends

• Through their last three road contests, the Thunder offense has averaged 111 points per game while allowing an average of 111. Oklahoma City posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 ATS.
• In their last five home games, New Orleans has averaged 110 points per game while allowing 100. The team’s record in this stretch was 4-1 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
• New Orleans has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
• Against the spread, the Thunder have put together 1-2 in their last three games as the betting favorite. In these same games, they went 3-0 straight up.

Thunder vs Pelicans Prediction

The Pelicans come in as the underdog at +2.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 223, and our model projects the Thunder and Pelicans to reach a combined total of 232 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.