The Oklahoma City Thunder are leading the New Orleans Pelicans 2-0 in their Western Conference first-round playoff series, with Game 3 set to take place on Saturday. The Thunder, the top seed in the West, are looking to maintain their momentum and extend their lead in the series. The Pelicans, the eighth seed, will be without Zion Williamson due to injury.
In the regular season, Oklahoma City averaged 120.1 points per game, the third-best in the NBA, while New Orleans averaged 115.1 points, ranking 13th. The Thunder are favored by 1.5 points in the upcoming game.
Key players to watch in this matchup include Thunder’s center Chet Holmgren and guard Luguentz Dort, who have been consistent contributors on offense. Holmgren has been particularly impressive, averaging a double-double in the series and performing well against New Orleans in the regular season. Dort has also been a reliable scorer for OKC.
On the Pelicans’ side, guard CJ McCollum and small forward Brandon Ingram will be looking to lead the team to a comeback in Game 3. McCollum has played well against the Thunder this season, averaging over 20 points in their matchups. Ingram, on the other hand, has been a consistent scorer for New Orleans and has performed well against Oklahoma City throughout his career.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which has a strong track record in predicting NBA games, is leaning towards an Over on the point total for this game and has made its picks for the Thunder vs. Pelicans matchup. For more detailed analysis and predictions, you can visit SportsLine to get insights from the model.
As the series progresses, both teams will be looking to make adjustments and capitalize on their strengths to secure a win in Game 3. With the stakes high and competition fierce, basketball fans can expect an exciting matchup between these two Western Conference teams. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the series unfolds.
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