New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 2/2/2018

Friday, February 2, 2018

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Chesapeake Energy Arena to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, February 2, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 8.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 27-23. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.1 as they are averaging 110.8 points per game while giving up 110.7 per contest. The Thunder have an overall record of 30-21. They currently are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 106.1 points per game and surrendering 102.0, good for a point differential of 4.1.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 26-24-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 29-21-0 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 21-29-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 23-28-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/30/18 F Dante Cunningham Back injured last game, is "?" Friday vs Oklahoma City
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

01/28/18 G Andre Roberson Leg is out for season

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis averages 26.4 points per game in 36.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 10.6 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 18.7 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 81%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 25.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.4 rebounds per contest and 10.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 71%. Carmelo Anthony averages 17.7 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year for the Thunder. He grabs 5.9 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 110.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they give up 24.2 assists per contest which puts them in 25th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the league. New Orleans averages 110.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.02 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 43 rebounds per game and 26.4 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 15.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder surrender 102 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 22.3 assists allowed per contest, and 3rd with 41 rebounds surrendered per game. The Thunder are 30th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.4 per game this season. Oklahoma City is 13th in the league with 106.1 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 4.12. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 25th in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 44.9 boards per game and 27th in assists per contest with 21. The Thunder are 18th in turnovers per game with 14.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 109.7, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 9th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 13th in the NBA. New Orleans is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 15th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 24th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA. The Thunder are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 105.8, and their offensive rating of 110 is ranked 27th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 95.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 20th. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Pelicans/Thunder NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -8.5

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