Thunder vs Pelicans Predictions, Picks, Betting Tips 2/13/2020

Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020

Location: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -2

Total/Over-Under: 226

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder (32-22, 3rd in the Northwest Division) head to Smoothie King Center on Thursday where they'll take on the New Orleans Pelicans (23-31, 5th in the Southwest Division). Oklahoma City opens this matchup as 2 point underdogs. The O/U is set at 226.

The Thunder are covering 64.8% of the time, having gone 35-19-0 ATS. New Orleans is covering 53.8% of the time, going 28-24-2 against the spread.

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

02/10/20 SF Darius Bazley Thumb is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

02/11/20 SF Brandon Ingram Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Oklahoma City

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this game averaging 19.5 points per contest while playing 35.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Chris Paul averages 17.5 points per contest in 31.7 minutes per game. He averages 6.6 assists per game and 5.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday scores 19.4 points per contest while playing 34.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.7 rebounds per contest and has 6.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 72%. Brandon Ingram averages 24.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.4 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 110.4 points per contest, which is 18th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 7th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They average 43.1 boards per contest and 21.9 assists per game, which ranks them 23rd and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 24th with 13.6 per game. The Thunder allow 107.9 points per contest, which is 10th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 6th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.3 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they allow 22.7 assists per game which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 4th in the NBA with 115.7 points per contest this season. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.48. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 4th in the league. They are 5th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.6 boards per contest and 7th in assists per game with 26.2. The Pelicans are 3rd in turnovers per contest with 16.0. The Pelicans give up 117.2 points per game, which ranks them 28th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 19th and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 24.4 dimes allowed per game and 17th with 45.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 16th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.3, and their defensive rating of 108.7 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 98.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 12th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 24th in the league. Oklahoma City is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 7th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 13th in the league. The Pelicans are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.7, and their defensive rating of 112.1 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 103.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 7th. As a team they are 13th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New Orleans -2

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