The Golden State Warriors (18-6), the leagues top scoring team, will challenge the New Orleans Pelicans (12-11) at Smoothie King Center. Action begins at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, December 4, 2017, and it can be seen on Fox Sports – New Orleans.
Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
The Warriors dismantled the Miami Heat in their last contest, 123-95. Stephen Curry was the games high scorer with 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Golden State played a perfect game. They had an offensive rebounding percentage of 23.3 (above their season average of 22.2) and a turnover percentage of 8.7 (better than their season average of 14.7). Miami recorded marks of 12.8 and 11.1, respectively, for those same stats.
In the Pelicans last matchup, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-116. New Orleans received a boost from DeMarcus Cousins, who was the top scorer from either team with 38 points on 14-for-28 shooting. The Pelicans made 18 of their 25 free throws (72.0 percent) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.610 (above their season average of 0.539).
This battle pits one of the NBA’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses. New Orleans ranks fifth in effective field goal percentage (0.542) and Golden State is third in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.492).
Of Golden State’s 23 games that accepted bets, 14 have finished over the O/U total, while 12 of New Orleans 23 games have finished over the O/U total. The Warriors have the better straight up (SU) record (18-6 vs. 12-11), but the Pelicans hold the significant advantage against the spread (ATS) (13-10 vs. 10-13).
These two teams have already met twice this season, with the Warriors winning both. Anthony Davis led both teams with 30 points in the most recent game, in which the Pelicans lost 110-95, unable to cover as 11-point underdogs. The two teams combined to score 205 points, which was 22.5 points below the projected point total of 227.5 points. The Warriors played a nearly perfect game. They had a phenomenally low turnover percentage of 7.8 and a free throw rate of 0.234. The Pelicans put up marks of 15.3 and 0.190, respectively, for those same stats.
Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Pelicans, ATS Winner – Pelicans, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Warriors rank first in assists per game (30.9) while the Pelicans rank 19th in assists allowed per game (23.3).
- Golden State averages 31.4 three pointers per game, which ranks eighth in the NBA. New Orleans ranks 23rd in three pointers allowed per game (30.7).
- Golden State ranks first in blocks per game (8.4) while New Orleans ranks 18th (4.5).
- New Orleans ranks 14th in second chance points per game (12.7) while Golden State ranks 25th (10.3).
- New Orleans is 5-5 ATS at home, while Golden State is 5-7 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone over in 8 of the Warriors 12 road games, while 5 of the Pelicans 10 home games have gone over.
- In games where they hold opponents below 100 points, Golden State is 5-1 and New Orleans is 4-0.
- The Warriors are 17-4 when they score over 100 points, while the Pelicans are 10-6.
- The Warriors rank fourth in rebounds allowed per game (41.4) while the Pelicans rank 21st (44.0).
- Golden State ranks first in fast break points per game (22.4) while New Orleans ranks 24th in fast break points allowed per game (12.6).
- The Warriors average 8.7 steals per game, which ranks sixth in the league. The Pelicans rank 25th in steals allowed per game (8.7).
- The Warriors average 18.5 points off turnovers per game, which ranks ninth in the league. The Pelicans rank 23rd in points off turnovers allowed per game (18.1).
- New Orleans averages 51.6 points in the paint per game, which ranks second in the league. Golden State ranks 21st in points allowed in the paint per game (46.0).
Bettings Trends:
- New Orleans is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Golden State is 3-2 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
- The Pelicans average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 1.6, up from 0.8 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Warriors have scored an average of 119.8 points per game (1.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 107.0 points per game (0.2 above their season average).
