Pelicans vs. Thunder final score prediction for Game 2 of NBA Playoffs
The New Orleans Pelicans were the only underdog to cover in Game 1s across the NBA as the playoffs tipped off. The Pelicans were a CJ McCollum 3-pointer away from a buzzer-beating upset victory, but the shot was off the mark and the top-seeded Thunder escaped with a 94-92 victory.
New Orleans is back as a modest underdog in Game 2 Wednesday night at Paycom Center. Can the Pelicans hang around once again and potentially steal a game on the road? Or will Oklahoma City recover from a poor shooting start to the series and flex its muscles as the No. 1 seed in the west?
Using the latest betting odds for Game 2, here’s an attempt to predict the final score for tonight’s Game 2 matchup between the Pelicans and Thunder.
Pelicans vs. Thunder odds, spread and total
Pelicans vs. Thunder NBA expert prediction and pick
New Orleans nearly shocked the NBA world with a Game 1 road win without star forward Zion Williamson, who was hurt during the play-in tournament. The Pelicans don’t mind playing with their backs against the wall as underdogs this season.
New Orleans has the No. 1 ATS mark as an underdog in the NBA this season (21-11-1) and has gone 25-16-1 ATS on the road. Oklahoma City has been one of the best ATS teams at home, too, going 27-15.
Do the Thunder bounce back with a comfortable win? You can make the case that it was first-game jitters for the slew of young standouts on the Oklahoma City roster. Oklahoma City is a top-5 scoring team in the NBA, putting up 122.4 points per game at home.
In Game 1, the Thunder shot just 43.5% from the field, turned in a 10-of-32 performance from the perimeter, and got to the free-throw line just 13 times.
Pelicans vs. Thunder final score prediction
A bounce-back performance is easier said than done against a New Orleans defense that is No. 5 in opposing shooting percentage and No. 6 in net rating. The Pelicans are the No. 1 defense against 3-point shots this season, but Oklahoma City is not a team that defends on its perimeter attack, ranking 16th in triples attempted per game.
New Orleans is No. 21 against shots from inside the arc and Oklahoma City can take advantage of a Pelicans’ frontcourt missing Williamson. OKC is a top-5 shooting team in the league in shooting from 2-point range and we’ll chalk its Game 1 shooting performance up to first-game nerves. Oklahoma City gets back on track on Wednesday.
Final score prediction: Thunder 114, Pelicans 103
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Game odds update periodically and are subject to change