Free NBA Pick: Pelicans vs. Thunder NBA Odds
Looking for New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Pelicans taking on the Thunder on Wednesday, December 15th, 2021 at the Paycom Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Pelicans Thunder matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(8-21) New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-18)
Date: Wednesday, December 15th
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
NBA Moneyline Odds: Pelicans -125 | Thunder +105 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Pelicans -1.5
NBA Betting Total: 210.5
Wednesday, December 15th, finds the New Orleans Pelicans playing the Oklahoma City Thunder squad for the second time this season. OKC won (108-100) the initial meeting on November 10th. The squads will play once more on Boxing Day in Oklahoma City.
Both teams have been off since Sunday when the Pelicans lost to the Spurs 97-112 while the Thunder lost to the Doncic-less Mavericks 84-103.
Last season, the squads played three times with the Pelicans winning two of the three contests. The Thunder hold the all-time record having bested the Pelicans in 38 of their 65 matches.
New Orleans Pelicans
Another week and yet another setback for Zion Williamson. The Pelicans provided an update that the bone in his foot isn’t healing like the team had wished so they’ve backed off his conditioning to less strenuous solo work.
Williamson has now missed more games than he’s played in his three seasons since being drafted first overall. The situation can’t help but summon memories of top draft pick Greg Oden who suffered an even worse fate than Zion.
It’s a tough situation given the rumors that Zion wants to play in a different market persist and the health of the franchise is also up in the air. Many believe if the Pelicans lose Williamson it will be the straw that breaks the franchise forcing them to move to another market (Seattle?).
The Pelicans have been playing better of late with five wins in their last nine matches. Presumably, the team was amped at the prospect of getting Zion back so it will be interesting to see if the news he’s hit a roadblock impacts the rest of the roster.
In the loss to the Spurs
A trio of players joins Zion as out including Daulton Hommes (fibula) who is out indefinitely while Kira Lewis Jr. (ACL) is gone for the season and Didi Louzada Silva continues to serve his 25 game suspension for violating PED usage.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder bounced back from setting the record for the worst differential in history (-73) with consecutive wins versus the Pistons and Raptors but then dropped their next two games versus the Lakers and Magic.
The latter match should’ve been more competitive without Doncic but OKC struggled to get any offensive rhythm scoring only 84 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his squad with 18 points but on an inefficient 6 of 15 from the field with four rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Rookie Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 11 points while Darius Bazley and Lu Dort each scored 10 points.
Josh Giddey also had a rough shooting night (3 of 14) scoring six points but added seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block.
In the match versus the Mavericks, Lu Dort took an odd fall when he got tangled up with Kristaps Porzingis and left the game with a leg injury which will force him to miss this match.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Thunder are 7-3 in the last 10 head to head
- The Thunder are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings
- The Pelicans are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The Thunder are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The Pelicans are 7-13 SU in their last 20 games this season.
Free New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Prediction:
Although the Thunder are actively tanking the majority of their eight wins (aside from two versus the Lakers) have come against sub .500 teams. Still, the Pelicans haven’t thrown up the white flag yet so they should be invested in getting the victory.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Pelicans -1.5
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