The New Orleans Pelicans will look to stave off elimination when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their 2024 NBA playoffs series on Monday. The Thunder (57-25), the top seed in the West, are coming off a 106-85 win at New Orleans on Saturday. The Pelicans (49-33), the eighth seed, have not been able to get out of the first round since the 2017-18 season. OKC was 24-17 on the road during the regular season, while New Orleans was 21-19 at home. Zion Williamson (hamstring) remains out for the Pelicans.
The game from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. Oklahoma City is averaging 108 points per game during the postseason, seventh-best in the NBA, while New Orleans is averaging 89.7, 16th-best. Oklahoma City is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Thunder vs. Pelicans odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points is 208.5. Before making any Pelicans vs. Thunder picks, be sure to see 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 profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 91-62 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Thunder vs. Pelicans and just locked in its picks and Game 4 predictions. 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 over/under: 206.5 points
- Thunder vs. Pelicans money line: 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 first-half money line in 55 of their last 83 games (+23.80 units)
- Thunder vs. Pelicans picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cover
Center Chet Holmgren has reached double-figure scoring in four of the past five games, including a 26-point effort in Game 2. In that contest, he also added seven rebounds and two blocks. Holmgren registered a double-double in the series opener, scoring 15 points, while adding 11 rebounds. Including the postseason, he has registered 24 double-doubles on the year. In three playoff games, he is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.3 assists.
Shooting guard Josh Giddey is coming off a 21-point, eight-rebound and six-assist effort in Saturday's win. He has been putting up impressive numbers this season, and over a span of 15 games in March, he averaged 16.3 points on 57.2% shooting, including 41.4% from 3-point range, to go along with seven rebounds and 5.5 assists. He posted a triple-double in a win over Portland on Jan. 11, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 12 assists in just 22 minutes of action. That marked the first time in NBA history that a player had a triple-double on 100% shooting in under 25 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Pelicans can cover
Guard CJ McCollum is one of five New Orleans players averaging 10 or more points this postseason. McCollum opened the series with a 20-point, six-assist and three-rebound performance. He followed that up with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, and had 16 points, seven assists and five boards in Game 3. 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 the last 10 games for New Orleans. His best game during that stretch was a 24-point, six-rebound and 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 postseason games, he is averaging 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one block in 35.7 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Pelicans vs. Thunder picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 210 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can see the picks only at SportsLine.
So who wins Thunder vs. Pelicans, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Pelicans vs. Thunder spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 91-62 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
