Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Game Picks 12/1/2019

Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Sunday, December 1, 2019

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -3

Total/Over-Under: 229

Smoothie King Center is the venue where Jrue Holiday and the New Orleans Pelicans (6-13, 4th in the Southwest Division) will play the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-11, 5th in the Northwest Division) on Sunday. Oklahoma City opens this matchup as 3 point dogs. The total has been set at 229.

The Thunder are covering the spread 61.1% of the time, having gone 11-7-0 ATS. New Orleans is covering 47.4% of the time, going 9-10-0 against the spread.

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

11/29/2019 Andre Roberson SG Knee Game Time Decision
11/25/2019 Hamidou Diallo SG Elbow Expected to be out until at least Jan 4

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

11/29/2019 Kenrich Williams SG Ankle Game Time Decision
11/29/2019 Lonzo Ball PG Illness Game Time Decision
11/29/2019 Derrick Favors PF Personal Game Time Decision
11/22/2019 Zion Williamson SF Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 15
8/29/2019 Darius Miller SF Achilles Expected to be out until at least Apr 1

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this game averaging 18.3 points per contest while playing 34.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Danilo Gallinari averages 18.2 points per contest in 29.8 minutes per game. He averages 2.1 assists per game and 5.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday scores 19.0 points per contest while playing 36.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.1 rebounds per contest and has 7.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Brandon Ingram averages 25.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.4 rebounds per game and has 4.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 107.5 points per contest, which is 20th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 11th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They average 42.4 boards per contest and 22.1 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 21st with 14.8 per game. The Thunder allow 108.6 points per contest, which is 12th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 16th and 10th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.3 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they allow 22.9 assists per game which puts them in 7th place in the league. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 5th in the NBA with 115.1 points per contest this season. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -4.42. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 4th in the league. They are 18th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.1 boards per contest and 9th in assists per game with 25.2. The Pelicans are 7th in turnovers per contest with 16.3. The Pelicans give up 119.5 points per game, which ranks them 29th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 26th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 25th with 25.7 dimes allowed per game and 17th with 45.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 21st in the league in forcing turnovers with 16.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 20th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 108.3 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league. Oklahoma City is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 16th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 11th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 55%, which is 5th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 113.7, and their offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 28th. They are 4th in the NBA in pace with 104.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 12th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans -3

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