Pelicans vs. Thunder prediction and odds for Friday, December 23 (New Orleans snaps OKC’s winning streak)

Dec 11, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

The Pelicans are still awaiting the return of Brandon Ingram and won’t have Zion Williamson on Friday either after he entered Health & Safety Protocols earlier this week.

If the Pels are short handed can they keep up with a frisky Thunder team that has won three straight games and is still hanging around the Western Conference playoff picture. Who will fill in as the high usage scorer for the Pelicans with Ingram and Williamson out?

Let’s break down the odds and give our Pelicans vs. Thunder best bet.

Pelicans vs. Thunder Odds, Spread and Total

Pelicans vs. Thunder Prediction and Pick

The Pelicans waltzed to a win against the Spurs in their last game without Ingram and Williamson behind 40 points from C.J. McCollum. The mid-season acquisition from last season has moved into more of a facilitator role, but is more than capable of carrying the scoring load when necessary.

I see another strong outing from him once again against a Thunder team that may have won three straight games, but is starting to show signs of slowing down in December; playing .500 ball with a negative net rating.

This month, the Thunder are posting the 25th-best effective field goal percentage in the league and will struggle to keep up with the highly efficient Pelicans offense that is top 10 in assists this month.

Even without their two high profile players, the Pelicans offense can still handle the Thunder offense and take out another Western Conference foe.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.