OKC smashed New Orleans in the second game, sending a strong message before going to Big Easy. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are with their backs against the wall, and need to come out in the best possible mode, otherwise, their playoff adventure will be pretty short.
Before Betting on OKC Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans
We expected to see the Thunder making a few adjustments after Game 1 and getting back into the competitive rhythm. The first meeting was a bit problematic for OKC because they hadn’t been playing for some time, and the Pels were in a competitive mode following the play-in tournament. As soon as that was solved, Shai and the guys showed their potential.
A 124-92 win may not reflect the difference between these two units, but it isn’t too far from that. The entire starting lineup was excellent, with Shai leading the way, scoring 33 points, 13-for-19 from the field. Chet Holmgren added 26, Jalen Williams had 21, Lugentz Dort 15 and Josh Giddey 15.
New Orleans needs to do something about Zion, or this team won’t have any success in the future. He is out again and isn’t certain for Game 3, which is a big setback for the hosts. They are already struggling on the offensive side, and the proof is that Jonas Valanciunas had the most points in Game 2, 19.
Brandon Ingram had 18, the same as Herb Jones. CJ McCollum got stuck at 15 buckets, once again shooting poorly for downtown, 1-for-5. It seems that his struggle is a huge problem for New Orleans. For the moment, there isn’t any help about it.
OKC Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans Game 3 Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Thunder (1.82) | Pelicans (2.02) | 211 | Thunder -1.5 (1.87) | Pelicans +1.5 (1.95) |
| MyBookie | Thunder (1.84) | Pelicans (1.94) | 211 | Thunder -1 (1.91) | Pelicans +1 (1.91) |
| BetUS | Thunder (1.87) | Pelicans (1.95) | 211 | Thunder -1 (1.91) | Pelicans +1 (1.91) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Thunder (1.82) | Pelicans (2.02) | 211 | Thunder -1.5 (1.87) | Pelicans +1.5 (1.95) |
| XBet | Thunder (1.84) | Pelicans (1.94) | 211 | Thunder -1 (1.91) | Pelicans +1 (1.91) |
With or without Zion, the Pelicans don’t have the quality to challenge the Thunder, who are excellent when it comes to adjusting, so we believe they will win this one as well. As stated, they won’t feel intimidated by Zion but find a solution on how to handle this guy.
