- When: Monday, April 29th at 8:30 PM ET
- Who: OKC Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans
- Where: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA
- What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs game 4
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won the first three games of the best-of-seven series against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Thunder has been dominant in the last two games, winning by a combined 53 points. The Pelicans are facing a significant challenge, as no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs.
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Game Preview (Spread)
| Moneyline |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans +5 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| OKC Thunder -5 | -105 | -105 | -105 |
The Pelicans will need to play an almost perfect game to beat the Thunder, who have shown very few weaknesses.
Despite clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, some questions remained about this Thunder team, which their performance in the playoffs has answered.
Defense is the priority every night 🔒 pic.twitter.com/7KT8XMnAqv
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 28, 2024
OKC has been particularly impressive with their perimeter game, shooting 31-of-65 (47.7%) from beyond the arc. The Thunder lead the league in 3-point shooting percentage (39%).
If the Pelicans allow them to get into a groove, New Orleans will have no chance of extending the series.
The Pelicans are facing a quality defensive Thunder team that ranked fourth in defensive efficiency with 111 points allowed per 100 possessions.
Oklahoma City is relentless at creating turnovers, leading the league with 15.7 per game. In the series' last two games, OKC forced 39 Pelicans turnovers.
The Pelicans are struggling with their shooting and are last among the 16 teams in the playoffs with a 40.3% shooting percentage.
It's difficult to see a way forward for the Pelicans, who have not shown any improvement since Game 1.
Given the Pelicans' struggles, it's safe to say that the Thunder will continue their winning streak and cover the 5 point spread.
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Total Points
The Thunder is well-positioned to exploit the Pelicans' vulnerabilities, and it's hard to see how the Pelicans can mount a comeback.
| Total Points | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 205 Points | -110 | -110 | -105 |
| Under 205 Points | -110 | -110 | -115 |
It is hoped that the New Orleans Pelicans will be able to put up a good fight and force the series to extend.
However, they have been thoroughly outplayed in the last two games, and the team seems to have accepted their fate.
The Pelicans are facing offensive limitations due to the absence of their star player, Zion Williamson, and their defense has failed to slow down OKC.
📊 B.I.: 19 PTS/4 REB
📊 CJ: 16 PTS/7 AST
📊 Herb: 15 PTS/7 REB/2 STL#OneNOLA | @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/MxbN3gRVkK— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 27, 2024
The Thunder managed to shoot an impressive 50% from the field in the series.
The Thunder have been dominating this series by playing excellent defense, holding the Pelicans to under 92 points in every game so far.
The Pelicans have struggled to score, averaging less than 90 points per game.
If the Thunder can maintain their defensive performance, they also have a good chance of winning this game.
However, the Pelicans will need to step up their scoring game to avoid being swept.
Both McCollum and Ingram will need to play their best, but McCollum is especially crucial to their success.
In games where he scored at least 20 points this season, the Pelicans had an impressive record of 27-7.
If he can get hot and perform well, the Pelicans may have a chance to stay in the series.
With the Thunder's balanced gameplay and their successful coverage of 6 out of their last 7 games, the Pelicans have been unable to maintain success on either end of the floor.
Therefore, choosing OKC and the inevitable pick seems reasonable as the Thunder completes the sweep.
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