Thunder vs. Pelicans: NBA Play-In Games Picks & Predictions (Wednesday)
We finished the regular season on a 3-0 sweep Friday, cleaning up to cap off a terrific regular season. Over 204 games we picked against the spread, we finished 56.6% ATS when all was said and done. Before the playoffs officially get underway, our attention turns to the four play-in tournament games beginning on Tuesday night. Here are our top picks for the NBA play-in games.
YTD Record: 112-86-6 ATS
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NBA Play-In Games Best Bets
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Thunder vs. Pelicans (Wednesday)
The Western Conference’s Nine-Ten matchup is one of the highlights of the Play-In tournament as far as I’m concerned. All season, there have been some clashes between the Pelicans and the Thunder. With its play-In opponent here, New Orleans won the season series, but all three of its victories were by less than five points.
While the Thunder attempts to surpass expectations by securing an unexpected playoff position, Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum will attempt to lead the Pelicans back to the NBA Playoffs via the Play-In for the second year in a row.
The under-24-year-old trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Williams I think will have something to say about that, however.
Gilgeous-Alexander participated in all four of the Pelicans’ games this season, thrashing New Orleans twice for more than 30 points and once for over 40. Even though the Thunder lost three of those games, he scored 33.5 points on average versus his Play-In opponent over the course of four games.
I think he’s the difference in this one.
Bet: Pelicans -5 (-110)
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