Pelicans vs. Thunder Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for NBA Play-In Game (Back a Low-Scoring Battle in New Orleans)

Pelicans vs. Thunder Game Info

• Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Smoothie King Center -- New Orleans, Louisiana
• Coverage: ESPN

The 2022-23 NBA Play-In Tournament continues on Wednesday with a Western Conference battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans. The Thunder are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, while the Pelicans are in the postseason for the second straight season.

Pelicans vs. Thunder Odds & Spread

• All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: NO: (-210) | OKC: (+176)
• Spread: NO: -5 (-114) | OKC: +5 (-106)
• Total: 228.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

The Pelicans enter this contest as moderate home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 10 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 228.5 points, with both sides available at -110 odds.

Pelicans vs Thunder Betting Information

Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Pelicans	-5	-114	-106	229	-110	-110	-210	176

Pelicans vs. Thunder Betting Trends

• The Pelicans covered 42 times in 82 games with a spread last season.
• As 5-point underdogs or greater, the Thunder went 36-23-3 against the spread last year.
• The Pelicans and their opponents combined to go over the point total 33 out of 82 times last season.
• There were 40 Thunder games (out of 82) that went over the total last season.

Pelicans vs. Thunder Prediction & Pick

Oklahoma City was written off as a rebuilding team before the season began, but the duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.4 points per game) and Josh Giddey (48.2% shooting percentage) put in the work to reach the postseason. This is a young roster made up of guys playing with nothing to lose.

The Thunder started off slow and ended the season hot, but that same thing cannot be said about the Pelicans. Injuries killed what was a great start (18-8 record) as New Orleans needed to win nine of its last 12 games to reach this point. Brandon Ingram led the way for the Pelicans with 24.7 points per game.

Three of the four regular-season meetings between these teams were decided by 4 points or less, so this one could go either way. I'll side with the home team, though, as New Orleans ranks eighth in average scoring margin at home (+5.0) and has won four of its last six games against Oklahoma City.

Final Score Prediction: Pelicans: 112 | Thunder: 109

Pelicans vs. Thunder Best Bet

These teams have been taking part in low-scoring battles over the past month. The total has hit the under in 10 of New Orleans' last 13 games overall as well as in six of Oklahoma City's last nine games overall. The under has also cashed in each of OKC's last five games against a Southwest Division foe.

It's not difficult to learn why that has been the case. The Thunder rank 24th in shooting percentage (46.5%), while New Orleans ranks 21st in turnovers per game (14.6). Expect empty possessions as three of the four meetings between these squads this season resulted in fewer than 210 total points.

Bet: Under 228.5 Total Points (-110)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.