The New Orleans Pelicans (3-16) travel to the West Coast to visit the Golden State Warriors (10-10) Saturday. Tip-off from Chase Center in San Francisco, California is set for 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Pelicans vs. Warriors odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Golden State leads 1-0
New Orleans was handed a 133-128 OT loss by the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday, failing to cover as a 3.5-point home underdog with the Over (235.5) hitting. Jose Alvarado led all Pelicans with 24 points, albeit while coming off the bench. The Pels gave up 66 points in the paint and lost the rebounding battle 49-40 Wednesday.
Golden State suffered a heartbreaking 104-100 loss against the Houston Rockets Wednesday while failing to cover as a 3.5-point home favorite as the Under (225) cashed. Stephen Curry exited late in the 4th quarter with a quad injury that will keep him out for at least a week; he finished with 14 points and 7 turnovers against the Rockets. Jimmy Butler III and rookie Will Richard combined for 39 points, but the Warriors’ 16 turnovers were too much to overcome.
The Warriors routed the Pelicans 124-106 Nov. 16, in a game where G/F Moses Moody went off for 32 points while hitting 8 long balls, both career-highs. The Pelicans were held to just 8 made threes while the Warriors erupted for 24 in the contest.
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Pelicans at Warriors odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:35 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Pelicans +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Warriors -375 (bet $375 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans +8.5 (-105) | Warriors -8.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Pelicans at Warriors key injuries
Pelicans
- G Jordan Hawkins (illness) out
- G Herbert Jones (calf) out
- F Trey Murphy III (elbow) questionable
- G Dejounte Murray (Achilles) out
- G Jordan Poole (quad) out
Warriors
- G Stephen Curry (quad) out
- C Al Horford (back) out
- F Jonathan Kuminga (knee) questionable
- G De’Anthony Melton (knee) out
- G Gary Payton II (ankle) probable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Pelicans at Warriors picks and predictions
Prediction
Warriors 107, Pelicans 98
PASS.
The Warriors are the much better team, and they will have no problem covering here as -375 favorites, even with Curry out. However, the Warriors are not worth the risk of betting on as such a heavy favorite, so pass and bet on the spread and/or total instead.
LEAN WARRIORS -8.5 (-115).
Golden State’s big advantage here is its defense. The Warriors are eighth in defensive rating and eleventh in opponent points per game, while the Pelicans are bottom-5 in both categories.
Look for the experience of these great defenders in Butler and Draymond Green to give these young Pelicans players fits, forcing turnovers and leading to easy buckets for this Warriors offense that will desperately need them.
This is a lean because the Warriors are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games while the Pelicans are 4-2 ATS in their last 6.
BET UNDER 225.5 (-115).
The Pelicans and Warriors are already both bottom-10 offenses in the NBA, so things will look ever more clunky and sloppy here with Curry out. The Under is 3-1 in the last 4 matchups between these squads, and the Pelicans have been held to under 100 points in 2 of those matchups, so there’s no hope for their offense here.
Be aware that the Over has hit in back-to-back games for the Pelicans and is 2-1 in Golden State’s last 3.
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