The injury bug has bitten the New Orleans Pelicans early and often this season, and they have fallen to 3-8 ahead of their matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

My Pelicans vs. Thunder forecasters expect Oklahoma City’s depth and style to help cover this monster spread despite Chet Holmgren’s absence.

Find out why in my NBA picks for November 13.

Pelicans vs Thunder prediction

My best choice
Thunder -14.5 (-110 at bet365)

My analysis
Expectations were high for the Oklahoma City Thunder heading into the season, and a 9-2 start has fans excited about what this team’s ceiling is.

While they are without Chet Holmgren for the time being after he broke his pelvis earlier this week, it doesn’t compare to the New Orleans Pelicans’ injury report, which includes Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Zion Willamson.

In their absence, NOLA has turned to Brandon Boston at point guard, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl at power forward and Yves Missi at center. The first two averaged 10.8 and 8.6 minutes per game last year, and Missi is a rookie who was taken 21st overall in perhaps the weakest draft class in nearly a decade.

And they haven’t exactly filled the biggest ones yet. New Orleans ranks 23rd and 30th in offensive and defensive ratings, tied for the third-worst net rating. The Pels’ offensive rating of 101.0 in the two games since Zion’s injury would be by far the worst mark this season and the worst mark since 2015.

By comparison, the Thunder rank first in the league in net rating, including the league’s best defensive rating. The Pelicans have also played at the fourth-slowest pace and may struggle to keep up with the fifth-fastest Thunder.

Pelicans vs Thunder parlay in the same game

Thunder -14.5

Brandon Boston Over 5.5 rebounds

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 2.5 sales

Because the Thunder haven’t had a true center this season, they’ve given up a very abnormal 8.6 rebounds per game to opposing point guards.

Not only does that figure lead the league, but the gap between them and the next highest is just as big as the gap between that figure and the seventh highest.

We have to look to Brandon Boston on that front, who has been the Pelicans’ primary point guard in McCollum and Murray’s absences.

On the other side of that game, the Pelicans have forced 4.4 turnovers on opposing PGs this year. This should mean Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs to exceed tonight’s total, which he has exceeded in six of his last seven.

Learn how to parlay on the same game with these helpful tips and strategies.

Pelicans vs. Thunder Odds

Pelicans vs Thunder live odds

Pelicans vs Thunder opening odds

• Spread: New Orleans +14.5 | Oklahoma City -14.5
• Moneyline: New Orleans +750 | Oklahoma City -1,200
• Top/Bottom: Over 223 | Under 223

Odds courtesy of bet365

Pelicans vs. Thunder Spread and Over/Under Analysis

• New Orleans is a league-worst 2-9 ATS and has gone 0-5 on the road.
• Oklahoma City went 6-5 to the Over, but went 4-2 to the Over at home.
• The Pelicans have gone 8-3 in the Over, which is tied for the third-highest Overs total of the season.

Pelicans vs. Thunder trend

The Thunder are 7-4 against the spread and tied for the fifth-highest coverage percentage in the league. Find more NBA betting odds for Pelicans vs. Thunder.

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