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Pelicans vs Thunder: Free NBA Picks and Predictions
New Orleans is still dealing with some injuries as they head into their game tonight. Will the Thunder or they have a Thanksgiving hangover within their matchup on Friday?
Injuries have played a huge role in the way this year has been played by the Pelicans. Virtually every key player on this roster has missed time this season and at the Western Alliance, that is nearly a death sentence, although being without Zion Williamson has been hard enough.
Tonight won’t be any different either. Williamson is always sill out and will likely be for a few weeks and illnesses and the injuries do not stop there.
Lonzo Ball is already ruled out tonight. Derrick Favors is defined to miss another game because of personal reasons, therefore once more the Pelicans will likely be sparse at point guard and center.
Those are. This year has surprised me and they’re quite strong at the positions that the Pelicans will be weak at tonight.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a season and may be in the running for most improved player, although Chris Paul is as solid as ever . Add in the Mix of both Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel along with the Thunder possess tonight to some distinct advantages.
I have my eyes.
Both of these teams are day and night when they are playing on the road and I think we need to exploit that with the Thunder being slightly undervalued here compared to at home. The Pelicans have been one of the worst road defenses at the NBA and with no Ball and Favors tonight, so that is just two of the finest defenders not to the courtroom.
It gets even worse at first halves of their games. New Orleans is giving up 119.3 points per 100 possessions at the first halves of their road games, while scoring 104.1. These rank them 28th and 17th respectfully in those classes.
The Thunder at home are about the other end of the spectrum. OKC is posting a efficiency of 100, which is seventh-best from the league among home teams. Their crime has also been sizzling in halves, in which they average 114 points per 100 possessions, and also good for seventh-best from the NBA, particularly at home.
The Thunder are one of only a small number of teams that rank in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the first halves of their home games in the top 10. Considering how awful that the Pelicans have been around protection on the street, along with the fact they’re missing two starters still, I am backing the Thunder in the first half of the one.
My Choose: Thunder 1st Half -2