Thunder vs. Pelicans prediction, how to watch, TV channel, odds - April 21

In Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder will go up against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Thunder are currently strong 9-point favorites over the Pelicans. The over/under is 215.5 points for the game.

Here is everything you need to know to know about the Thunder-Pelicans game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information.

Thunder vs. Pelicans Game Information, TV Channel & Odds

• When: Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET
• Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• TV: TNT and BSOK

Thunder vs. Pelicans Prediction

ATS Pick: Pelicans (+ 9)
O/U Pick: Over (215.5)
Score Prediction: Thunder 118 - Pelicans 111

Thunder vs. Pelicans Betting Insights

• Thunder games have gone over 215.5 points scored, their current matchup's point total, 65 times (out of 82) this season.
• This season, 61 of the Pelicans' 82 games have had a combined total of more than 215.5 points scored.
• The two teams average a combined 19.7 more points per game (235.2) than this game's over/under of 215.5 points.
• Opponents of the two teams average a combined 7.9 more points per game, 223.4, than this game's total of 215.5 points.
• Oklahoma City has won 47, or 77%, of the 61 contests in which it was the favorite this year.
• New Orleans has come away with 19 wins in the 33 contests it has been listed as the underdog this season.
• In the last three head-to-head meetings, Oklahoma City has a 2-1 record against New Orleans.
• The Thunder also hold a 2-1 advantage against the spread when squaring off against the Pelicans.
• The Thunder beat the point spread in their past four games, and were favored in all of those contests.

Thunder Recent Trends

• The Thunder have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games, with a 5-5 record against the spread during that span.
• Oklahoma City's average total over the last 10 games is 10.2 points more than the 215.5 total given for this matchup.
• Against the spread, the Thunder are 46-35-1 this year.
• So far this season, Oklahoma City has been installed as favorites by a 9-point margin or more 22 times and are 14-8 ATS in those matchups.
• Thunder games this year have eclipsed the over/under 45 times in 82 opportunities (54.9%).
• The 120.1 points per game the Thunder record are 9.4 more points than the Pelicans allow (110.7).
• Oklahoma City has a 43-22 record against the spread and a 52-13 record overall when scoring more than 110.7 points.
• This season, the Thunder have a 49.9% shooting percentage from the field, which is 3.5% higher than the 46.4% of shots the Pelicans' opponents have made.
• When playing at home, the Thunder have a better record against the spread (27-14-0) compared to their ATS record in road games (19-21-1).
• When it comes to point totals, Oklahoma City hits the over less consistently at home, as it has exceeded the total 21 times in 41 opportunities this season (51.2%). On the road, it has hit the over 24 times in 41 opportunities (58.5%).
• The Thunder have won a higher percentage of their games as a moneyline favorite at home, going 30-5 (.857). In away games as a moneyline favorite, they own a record of 17-9 (.654).

Thunder Recent Stats

Thunder Leaders

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posts 30.1 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 boards per game.
• Chet Holmgren puts up 16.5 points, 7.9 boards and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 53% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game.
• Jalen Williams averages 19.1 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest, shooting 54% from the floor and 42.7% from downtown (ninth in NBA) with 1.5 made treys per contest.
• Josh Giddey averages 12.3 points, 4.8 assists and 6.4 rebounds.
• Luguentz Dort averages 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, shooting 43.8% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc with 2 made 3-pointers per game.

Thunder Player Props

Pelicans Recent Trends

• The Pelicans have gone 5-5 over their last 10 contests, with a 4-6 record against the spread during that span.
• New Orleans and its opponents have combined to score an average of 220.5 combined points in its last 10 games, 5.0 more than the 215.5 over/under in this matchup.
• The Pelicans have played 82 games, with 42 wins against the spread.
• This year, New Orleans is winless ATS when entering a game as an underdog of 9 points or more.
• The Pelicans have gone over the point total 43.9% of the time this year (36 of 82 games with a set point total).
• The Pelicans score only 2.4 more points per game (115.1) than the Thunder give up (112.7).
• When it scores more than 112.7 points, New Orleans is 31-13 against the spread and 34-11 overall.
• The Pelicans' 48.6% shooting percentage from the field this season is 3.1 percentage points higher than the Thunder have allowed to their opponents (45.5%).
• The Pelicans' winning percentage against the spread at home is .475 (19-20-0). Away, it is .548 (23-16-3).
• New Orleans' games have finished above the over/under 47.5% of the time at home (19 of 40), and 40.5% of the time on the road (17 of 42).
• As moneyline favorites, the Pelicans have won a lower percentage of games at home (15-13) than away (15-6).

Pelicans Recent Stats

Pelicans Leaders

• On a per-game basis, Brandon Ingram gives the Pelicans 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He also averages 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocked shots.
• On a per-game basis, CJ McCollum gives the Pelicans 20 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He also averages 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocked shots.
• The Pelicans are getting 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game from Jonas Valanciunas this season.
• Herbert Jones is putting up 11 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He is sinking 49.8% of his shots from the field and 41.8% from 3-point range, with 1.5 triples per game.
• Trey Murphy III is averaging 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest. He is sinking 44.3% of his shots from the floor and 38% from beyond the arc, with 3 treys per contest.

Pelicans Player Props

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.