Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks 2/14/2019

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, February 14, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 4.5 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 37-19. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 5.5 as they average 115.3 points per contest while giving up 109.8 per game. The Pelicans have an overall record of 25-33 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 115.3 points per game and surrender 114.7, good for a point differential of 0.6.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 33-23-0 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 28-27-0 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 27-30-1 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 29-28-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely
02/12/19 PG Dennis Schroder Personal is questionable Thursday vs New Orleans
02/12/19 SF Jerami Grant Ankle is questionable Thursday vs New Orleans

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

02/12/19 PG Elfrid Payton Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Oklahoma City
02/08/19 F Markieff Morris Waived has been waived

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 21.2 points per game in 35.5 minutes per contest. He averages 11.2 assists per contest and 11.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 65%. Paul George comes into this contest averaging 28.7 points per game while playing 36.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 8.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Jahlil Okafor averages 7.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 14.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.7 rebounds per contest and 0.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Jrue Holiday averages 20.9 points per game while playing 36.3 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 8.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 109.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 12th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.2 rebounds a game which ranks 20th, and they give up 24.9 assists per contest which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 17.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 115.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.5 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 15th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 47.9 rebounds per game and 23.3 assists per contest, which ranks them 2nd and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 15th with 14.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans surrender 114.7 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.9 assists allowed per contest, and 16th with 44.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 5th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game. New Orleans is 4th in the league with 115.3 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.6. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 46.9 boards per game and 4th in assists per contest with 26.6. The Pelicans are 13th in turnovers per game with 14.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.9, and their defensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 2nd in the league with 103.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 21st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league. Oklahoma City is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 18th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 20th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA. The Pelicans are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 112.3, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 24th. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 102.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 9th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Thunder/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans +4.5

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