Joralexray Garcia
This Friday night, the NBA will have a day full of interesting and important games, and the Pelicans vs Thunder will definitely be one of those duels: it will be a game in which two teams that have had very different campaign, but that are on similar paths, will confront each other with a victory on mind.
The Pelicans came away with a 101-105 victory in the first meeting of the season against the Thunder. So they could be confident of recording a similar result here, given that, in seven of their last ten meetings against the Thunder, the visiting team always won.
Keep reading because the best preview for the New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder can be found at JefeBet, where you can also learn about the betting preview and the best odds of the game.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Regular Season Game on December 23, 2022
- Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- When: Friday, December 23, 2022, 8:00 PM E.T.
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Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans have had a very good campaign. They have even taken the top of the Western Conference last week; however, the team did not last long in that position as they’ve recorded a total of four consecutive losses, in which their defense performed very poorly, and not until yesterday did they manage to get back to winning ways.
The team got back on track with a 117-126 win over the San Antonio Spurs, a game in which CJ McCollum carried the team’s offense with 40 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds.
The Pelicans’ offense is the third best in the NBA, with an average of 117.3 points scored per game. But now, they will have to prove that they can also maintain that production without relying on Zion Williamson, who will be out for the game. What’s more, they also need to shore up a defense that has averaged 124.6 points in its last five games.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder has been more than competitive this campaign, but it has also shown some inconsistencies. And, although the team is currently on a three-winning streak, the negative moments have been more constant, which has not allowed them to move up in the Western Conference standings, where they are currently 12th.
All three wins in the Thunder’s current streak were at home, including two in a row against the Portland Trail Blazers, by scores of 121-123 and 98-101. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the Thunder’s main pillar in those two games, registering a total of 35 and 27 points, respectively.
More precisely, it has been him who, with an average of 31.2 points scored per game, has led the Thunder’s offense, which currently averages 115.1 points scored.Plus, he has helped a defense that is the sixth-worst in the NBA with 116.5 points allowed per game.
JefeBet Prediction
Despite their moment of negative streaks, the Pelicans have not looked bad, especially on offense: they have continued to put up very good numbers, and most likely will continue to do so against a very weak offense, which should have trouble slowing them down even with Williamson’s absence.
However, it should be kept on mind that the Pelicans’ big problem in recent weeks has been defense, which doesn’t look like it will change now considering they are coming off a game the night before and will face the Thunder’s Gilgeous-Alexander.
Therefore, considering that both teams have been very effective offensively and that they have suffered a lot defensively in the last games, we consider that, unlike their previous clash, this duel will have the offense as the main protagonist and will have a high score.
Prediction: Over.
Odds provided by BetMGM. Check out our reviews!
