The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will look to earn a sweep against the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans when they meet Monday in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round matchup . Oklahoma City beat New Orleans 106-85 on Saturday to take a 3-0 series lead. The Thunder (57-25), who posted their first winning record since 2019-20, will try to advance to the second round for the first time since reaching the conference finals in 2015-16. The Pelicans (49-33), who have lost five of their last six games, last advanced to the second round in 2017-18, where they lost in five games to the Warriors.
Tip-off from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The Thunder are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Thunder vs. Pelicans odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under in total points scored is 205.5. Before making any Pelicans vs. Thunder picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profits for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model entered Week 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a scorching 90-58 score on all top-rated NBA picks this season, netting over $2,800. Anyone who follows the model has seen huge benefits.
Now, the model has set its sights on Thunder vs. Pelicans and has just locked in its picks and predictions for Game 4. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Pelicans vs Thunder:
- Thunder vs. Pelicans spread: Oklahoma City -4.5
- Thunder vs. Pelicans plus/minus: 205.5 points
- Money line Thunder vs. Pelicans: Oklahoma City -192, New Orleans +160
- OKC: The Thunder have hit the money line in 57 of their last 79 games (+19.60 units)
- NO: The Pelicans have hit the money line in the first half in 55 of their last 83 games (+23.80 units)
- Thunder vs. Pelicans picks: See the picks on SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cover
Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to torch the Pelicans. He nearly recorded a double-double in the Game 3 win, scoring 24 points, while dishing out eight assists, grabbing five rebounds and adding four steals. In three playoff games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 28.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes. He scored 33 points and added five assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 124-92 Game 2 victory.
Forward Jalen Williams is also able to force his way against New Orleans. The second-year player scored 21 points in consecutive games in the series and narrowly missed a double-double in game three. In this contest, he added nine rebounds and five assists. In three playoff games, he averaged 20.3 points, seven rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 36.7 minutes. In 71 regular season games across all starts, he averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.1 steals. Find out which team to support on SportsLine.
Why the Pelicans can cover
Shooting guard CJ McCollum is one of five New Orleans players averaging 10 or more points in the postseason. McCollum opened the series with a performance of 20 points, six assists and three rebounds. He followed that up with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, and had 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the third game. During the regular season, he played in 66 games, all starts, and averaged 20 points, 4.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32.7 minutes. During the regular season, McCollum ranked No. 1 in the NBA in 3-point percentage, shooting 42.9% from long range.
Small forward Brandon Ingram has scored 10 or more points in each of New Orleans’ last 10 games. His best game during that stretch was a 24-point, six-rebound, six-assist effort in a 105-98 win over Sacramento on April 19. He had 19 points and four rebounds in Saturday’s Game 3 loss. In three playoff games, he averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one block in 35.7 minutes. Find out which team to support on SportsLine.
How to make Pelicans vs. Thunder picks
SportsLine’s model builds on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 210 points. The model also indicates that one side of the spread has all the value. You can see the picks only on SportsLine.
So who wins Thunder against Pelicans, and which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pelicans vs. Thunder spread you should jump to, all from the model on a 90-58 score on the highest-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
