New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder Odds, Predictions, Player Props & Injuries for Game 2

Apr 21, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) defends during the fourth quarter of game one of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY SportsGame 2 between the New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder goes Wednesday nightThe Thunder eked out a 94-92 win in the opener of the best-of-seven seriesBelow, see the Pelicans vs Thunder Game 2 odds, predictions, props, and injury reports

As they’ve done all season, the New Orleans Pelicans (49-34, 28-15 away, 45-39-1 ATS) proved to be a tough out on the road in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder (58-25, 34-8 home, 46-36-1 ATS). The Pelicans battled back from a nine-point second-half deficit and even held a 90-88 lead late in the fourth quarter before their comeback bid ultimately fell short in a 94-92 loss.

The Pelicans easily covered the spread as 8.5-point underdogs and oddsmakers took notice. The Pelicans vs Thunder odds for Game 2 have moved a full point in New Orleans’ direction. Tip-off for Game 2 is slated for 8:40 pm ET/9:40 pm ET on Wednesday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder Odds

The Thunder head into Game 2 as 7.5-point favorites and -340 on the moneyline to take a 2-0 series lead. The Pelicans are +270 underdogs in Wednesday’s NBA odds. The game total has come down five full points from Game 1 (from 216.5 to 211.5) after neither team reached the century mark in the series opener.

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Odds as of April 24 at Fanatics. Lock in this Fanatics Sportsbook promo to bet on Pelicans vs Thunder Game 2.

The Thunder’s odds to win the series shortened to -1200 after the Game 1 victory. Only the Boston Celtics (-20000) have shorter odds to advance in the NBA playoff bracket. The winner of the NOLA/OKC series will face the winner of the #5 Dallas Mavericks vs #4 LA Clippers series, which is currently tied at one game apiece.

Thunder Escape Game 1

The young OKC Thunder didn’t put on the dominant home-court performance against the shorthanded Pelicans that many were expecting. The Thunder shot just 43.5% from the field, finished -8 on the boards, and got to the free-throw line just 13 times in their narrow Game 1 victory.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 28 points but wasn’t terribly efficient, shooting 11-of-24 from the field and 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.

On the Pelicans side, Trey Murphy III had a team-high 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting while CJ McCollum added 20 on 9-of-22 from the field. NOLA shot a woeful 38.5% from the floor and got to the stripe even less than OKC (7-of-9 from the free-throw line).

The Pelicans dearly missed leading scorer Zion Williamson (22.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.0 APG) who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. NOLA was outscored 42-36 in the paint.

Sunday’s setback dropped the Pelicans to 1-3 against the Thunder, including the regular season, and made it three straight losses to OKC.

Pelicans vs Thunder Player Props

NBA player props as of April 24 at DraftKings. 

The player props for Game 2 are largely similar to Game 1. The biggest fluctuation comes in the rebound total for Jonas Valanciunas, who had an over/under of 8.5 for Game 1 but has a game-high total of 11.5 for Game 2 after pulling down 11 rebounds in the series opener. With Zion out of the lineup, Valanciunas was asked to shoulder a bigger load than usual under the basket.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction

Defense has been dominating the first round of the 2024 NBA postseason, and Game 1 between the Pels and Thunder was a prime example. In 14 playoff games to date, the losing team has finished with more than 100 points just four times, while four games have ended with both teams under 100. The defensive intensity is up and the officiating is unquestionably more restrained. NOLA and OKC combined for just 22 free-throw attempts in Game 1.

I don’t expect a big uptick in scoring for Game 2. I lean Pelicans ATS with the line still at a sizable 7.5, but I’m more confident betting the under for the game and for NOLA’s struggling star, Brandon Ingram.

NOLA vs OKC picks:

Under 211.5 (-110)Ingram under 19.5 points (-115)

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