New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction 11/2/2025 Today’s NBA Picks

The New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder collide at the Paycom Center on Sunday afternoon. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview 

The New Orleans Pelicans have been ice-cold to start the season as they’ve yet to earn a victory and will be hoping to arrest a five-game slide after falling just short to the Clippers in a 126-124 road defeat on Friday. Jordan Poole led the team in scoring with 30 points on nine of 15 shooting off the bench. Zion Williamson added 29 points on nine of 17 shooting, Trey Murphy III scored 17 points with six assists, while Jeremiah Fears chipped in with 13 points, eight assists, and four steals.

As a team, the Pelicans shot 48 percent from the field and 18 of 37 from the 3-point line as they struggled to match the Clippers early on. They leaked 41 points in the second quarter to trail by as many as 17 points before they went on a late rally to cut the deficit to just one point with 9.6 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in red-hot form as they are now gunning for a seventh straight victory after blowing past the lowly Wizards in a 127-108 home win on Thursday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 31 points and seven assists on 11 of 20 shooting, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell each scored 20 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

As a team, the Thunder shot 44 percent from the field and 16 of 49 from the 3-point line. However, this win was more about their defense as they put a lid on the Wizards and held them to just 20 points in the first quarter. They also took the early lead, which ballooned to 24 points in the second half where they poured in 68 points.

Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win

• The Thunder have won each of their last 16 games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pelicans have lost each of their last 10 games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last seven games against the Pelicans.
• The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in 10 of their last 11 road games against Northwest Division opponents.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

• The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
• The Pelicans have covered the spread in four of their last five games at Paycom Center when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Pelicans’ last seven games as road underdogs following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of the Thunder’s last six day games at Paycom Center have gone UNDER the total points line.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction

The Pelicans are shorthanded again with Dejounte Murray ruled out and Kevon Looney listed as questionable, while the Thunder have ruled out Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams again. Two teams headed in opposite directions collide as the winless Pelicans battle the undefeated Thunder.

Anything can happen early in the season, especially with both teams missing some quality players, but the Thunder have owned this matchup as they’ve won the last six meetings. So, it’s not surprising to see them open as double digit favorites at home. The Thunder have been winning but only two of their five wins have been blowouts, so while I have the Thunder winning comfortably, I like the Pelicans to hang around keep the score respectable in the end.