Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 12/12/2018

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 1.5 point favorites.

The Thunder have a record of 17-8. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 6.8 as they average 111.6 points per game while giving up 104.7 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 14-15. They currently are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They total 117.4 points per contest and give up 115.6, which is a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 14-10-0 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 11-13-0 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 13-15-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 15-12-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/11/18 F Nikola Mirotic Ankle is out indefinitely
12/10/18 G E'Twaun Moore Leg is questionable Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
11/18/18 PG Elfrid Payton Finger is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Paul George averages 24.3 points per game in 34.7 minutes per contest. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 7.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Dennis Schroder comes into this contest averaging 16.8 points per game while playing 29.4 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is at 87%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 20.5 points per game and he sees the court an average of 36.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 8.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Anthony Davis averages 27.4 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per contest. He grabs 12.2 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 104.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.7 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they give up 23.5 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 17.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 111.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 6.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 29th in the league. They average 48.9 rebounds per game and 22.9 assists per contest, which ranks them 3rd and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans surrender 115.6 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 25.4 assists allowed per contest, and 10th with 43.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game. New Orleans is 2nd in the league with 117.4 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 1.8. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 16th in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 47.4 boards per game and 2nd in assists per contest with 27.2. The Pelicans are 8th in turnovers per game with 15.0.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 102.5, and their offensive rating of 109.2 is ranked 1st. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 102.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 25th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Oklahoma City is 18th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 26th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 9th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 112.3, and their offensive rating of 114.1 is ranked 24th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 102.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 5th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 25th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -1.5

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