New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Analysis and Prediction – New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder will play an NBA Playoffs game.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Odds
New Orleans Pelicans Team News
The New Orleans Pelicans had a great chance to make a breakthrough in the first game but return home without a win in this year’s playoff series. They finished the regular season and play-in as the eighth seed with a record of 49 wins and 33 losses.
This hasn’t been the most ideal season for the New Orleans Pelicans. While they made it to the playoffs, there are doubts about how far they can go. The first two games against the top-seeded team in the Western Conference don’t provide much reason for optimism. The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing very aggressive defense on their guards, resulting in poor three-point shooting percentages and a high number of turnovers for the Pelicans. Lu Dort has been particularly effective, primarily tasked with guarding C.J. McCollum, which has proven to be a great strategy. Additionally, Few players guard Brandon Ingram, but Chet Holmgren has done an excellent job defensively against him. Defensively, they are struggling to find a solution for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is playing phenomenally at this moment.
The first game was a significant missed opportunity, and that’s likely clear to everyone in the New Orleans Pelicans organization. However, they must perform much better in both directions in the two upcoming home games. This is especially true on the offensive end, where they have significant potential and need to find gaps in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s defense, creating advantages by breaking through the first line of defense.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team News
The Oklahoma City Thunder have had an excellent start to the playoffs, securing a 2-0 series lead after a bit of drama in the first game and a convincing win in the second. Their regular season performance was also impressive, finishing as the top seed in the Western Conference with a record of 57 wins and 25 losses.
When it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s clear that their main drawback is experience. This was particularly evident in the first game, where they had several chances to seal the game and avoid a tense finish. They made hasty decisions and turned the ball over frequently in those moments, highlighting the need for improvement as the series progresses. However, they showed improvement in the second game. They are an exceptionally intelligent team led by a great coach. They are always aware of the best shooting positions and their ball movement is excellent. The New Orleans Pelicans lack guards who can play strong defense, which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capitalizes on. Moments when Jonas Valanciunas is on the court are favorable for the Thunder, as it forces switches that their poin guard can exploit. On the other hand, none of the Pelicans’ guards have excelled in one-on-one defense, making it a matchup that the top-seeded team in the Western Conference is looking to exploit.
It’s clear that the Oklahoma City Thunder have a game plan they need to stick to throughout the series. This primarily involves their defense, where they have found the right players to guard the key players of the New Orleans Pelicans. On the offensive end, all eyes are on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it’s up to him as the team’s best player to continue carrying the team.
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New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder H2H
These two teams met three times during the regular season, with the New Orleans Pelicans coming out on top only in their first encounter. However, if we include playoff games, the Oklahoma City Thunder are on a four-game winning streak. The last game ended with a score of 124:92, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 33 points.
Absences and Injuries
Zion Williamson will not be playing for the home team, while Oliver Sarr is unavailable for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
Tip-off Time: Saturday, 27.04.2024, 21:30 CET
Prediction: New Orleans Pelicans +2.5
Odds: 1.80
Sportsbook: Rabona
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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