The Warriors are in the hunt for the fourth consecutive win, while the Pelicans are hoping for the first victory over Golden State since 2015. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans
Spread: Golden State Warriors -9.5 (-110) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 226.5 points (-110)
The Warriors are playing their fifth straight game on the road
The Golden State Warriors are in a good form of three consecutive away wins following an upsetting home loss to the Sacramento Kings, and after playing the previous two matches in Florida against Orlando and Miami, the reigning champions returned to the West to face New Orleans. Golden State is currently in the 2nd position in the Western Conference with the 18-6 record, and they will need to win in Big Easy if they want to put pressure on the Rockets.
Steve Kerr’s side destroyed the Miami Heat in the third quarter, winning the period by 20 points, and secured the convincing 123:95 victory in the end. Golden State had a fantastic field goal percentage (56%), dominated in the air (41-28 rebounds), and recorded 32 assists in opposite to Miami’s 17. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 30 points (11-16 FG, 5-9 3PT, 3-4 FT) and two steals, while Kevin Durant added 24 points (9-18 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-4 FT) and seven dimes. Klay Thompson scored 19 points along with five rebounds, and four assists, while Omri Casspi contributed with ten points and five boards. Although just four players went double digits on this one, 12 in total scored at least a point, and only Shaun Livingston failed to score of all 13 players. Curry might not have the best of times as he faces Rajon Rondo in a matchup that is not quite favorable considering Rondo’s defensive skills, but Thompson and Durant will have a lot easier jobs in duels with Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore. Klay and Durantula should run the floor for the visitors here and I expect them to combine for at least 50 points, as I anticipate a high-scoring tilt in which two of them will lead the way for the Warriors.
Steve Kerr is delighted to have all the players healthy and at his disposal, as Andre Iguodala returned following a two-match absence due to a sore left knee, and Iggy will be ready for his role with the second unit. Golden State played on Sunday and Kerr will try to rotate the lineup properly so no player is fatigued, and if this game goes to garbage time, it will give more resting time for the likes of Curry, Durant, Thompson, and Green. The Warriors are scoring 118.21 points per contest on average (1st in the NBA), while they are allowing 106.83 points in return (17th in the NBA). Golden State is the best team in the league when it comes to field goal percentage (51.45%), and shooting from beyond the arc (40.08%); they are the second in free-throw shooting (81.60%), while the Warriors are in the ninth place in rebounding (44.92). The defense is the best in limiting the opponents to just 43.52% from the field, and it is fourth in allowing only 41.17 rebounds to the rivals.
Place: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date/Time: Monday, December 4th, 2017, 8 PM ET
TV Coverage: FOX SPORTS NEW ORLEANS, NBCSBA
The Pelicans are desperate for the first won over Golden State since 2015
The New Orleans Pelicans returned home after a two-game road trip, and they snapped the three-match losing run with a 123:116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, despite being without Anthony Davis. New Orleans is in the 8th position in the Western Conference with the 12-11 record, while they are way below the division rivals Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, who already have five and three wins more, respectively.
Alvin Gentry’s team was superior in the second and third quarter against the Blazers, and although the hosts tried to make a comeback on the final period winning it by nine points, it was insufficient to avoid a defeat. New Orleans had excellent shooting percentage (52.3%) and hit 15 triples on 31 attempts (48.4%), so Portland was unable to win even though they committed just five turnovers and were very responsible in the offense. DeMarcus Cousins led the Pelicans with 38 points (14-28 FG, 2-7 3PT, 8-13 FT) and eight rebounds, E’Twaun Moore scored 19 points, while Jrue Holiday added 17 points, seven assists, and five boards. Rajon Rondo recorded his second double-double in a row with 12 points and ten dimes, along with six rebounds, and the former Boston Celtic is looking good with Holiday in the backcourt and it seems that a hernia is behind him, and Rondo is ready to play around 30 minutes per game. Darius Miller chipped in with ten points, while Dante Cunningham ended the tilt with eight points and game-high 12 rebounds. Cousins is the obvious player to watch for the hosts as he faces Zaza Pachulia in the paint, but it will be interesting to see how Rondo will cope with red-hot Steph Curry, and if he manages to keep him under 25 points, the Pelicans will have a decent chance of winning this encounter. Still, New Orleans must contain Durant and Thompson as well, and that’s not going to be easy, so Holiday and Moore will have a lot to do to stop the tandem.
Alvin Gentry will be without his superstar Anthony Davis who injured his left pelvis in a loss to Utah and missed the tilt at Portland. It is still unknown whether Davis will be sidelined for more than a few games, but Cousins and Holiday will get more usage while Davis is sidelined. The Pelicans are scoring 108.61 points per contest on average (7th in the NBA), while they are allowing 109.43 points in return (27th in the NBA). New Orleans is among the best five teams in the league (3rd) when it comes to field goal percentage (48.08%), and their home offense is even better with 49.35% from the field.
Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans Trends & Prediction
The Warriors are 11-13 against the spread (6-7 away), while they are 13-10-1 on over/under (7-5-1 away), and considering that Golden State are averaging 124.25 points per game in the previous four at New Orleans, I expect to see plenty of points here as well.
The Pelicans are 13-10 against the spread (5-5 home), while they are 12-11 on over/under (5-5 home), and without Davis, I don’t think the hosts can put up a fight on this one, but they should score over 100 points without problems.
My Pick: Pass
Total: Over 226.5 points (-110)
