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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)
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Pelicans at Thunder key injuries
Pelicans
- F Zion Williamson (hamstring) out
Thunder
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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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.
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