The New Orleans Pelicans and'Oklahoma City Thunder meet in Game 1 of a best-of-7 Western Conference 1st-round series Sunday. Tip from Paycom Center is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s'lines around the Pelicans vs. Thunder odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Thunder lead 2-1
New Orleans snapped a 2-game losing streak with a 105-98 win over the Sacramento Kings in a Western Conference play-in game Friday while covering as a 1.5-point home favorite. F Brandon Ingram'scored a team-high 24 points, while C Jonas Valanciunas'(19 points and 12 rebounds) had a double-double. The Pelicans shot 51.8% from the field in the win.
The Thunder ended their regular season on a 5-game winning streak after knocking off the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 Sunday and covering as 19.5-point favorites. G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander'scored a team-high 15 points, and 7 Thunder players scored in double figures. Oklahoma City shot 55.7% from the field in the win.