Apr 24, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) gestures after making a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of game two of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
- The OKC Thunder can sweep the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 4 on Monday night
- After a narrow Game 1 victory, OKC has won each of the past two games by 20-plus points
- See the OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans Game 4 predictions, odds, player props and injury reports on April 29
Time appears to be running out on the season for the New Orleans Pelicans (51-36, 22-21 home, 45-41-1 ATS). After a heartbreaking 94-92 setback in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder (60-25, 25-17 away, 48-36-1 ATS), the Pelicans were routed in Game 2 (124-92) and Game 3 (106-85).
Still missing leading scorer Zion Williamson, NOLA heads into Monday’s Game 4 as a five-point home underdog. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:40 pm CT/8:40 pm ET at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKC Thunder | -5 (-110) | -192 | O 206 (-110) |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +5 (-110) | +160 | U 206 (-110) |
On the moneyline, the Pelicans are +160 underdogs to win Game 4 and avoid the sweep. The Thunder are -192 to finish the series on Monday night. The game total is currently just 206 in Monday’s NBA odds, which is four points lower than last game and 10.5 points lower than Game 1. The teams are averaging just 197.7 PPG in the series so far. Games 1 and 3 stayed under while Game 2 went over by five points.
Â
Odds as of April 29 at Fanatics. Lock in this Fanatics Sportsbook promo to bet on OKC vs NOLA Game 4.
OKC vs NOLA Injury Reports for Game 4
Zion Williamson (22.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.0 APG) has been ruled out for Monday’s potential elimination game due to the hamstring injury he suffered in the 7-vs-8 Play-In Game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (2.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG) is also on the Pels’ injury report, listed as questionable with a sprained ankle.
The Thunder injury report remains clean, outside of G-Leaguer Olivier Sarr, who averaged 2.3 PPG in 15 appearances with OKC in the regular season.
Thunder vs Pelicans Public Betting Splits
The public is heavily backing the Thunder both against the spread and on the moneyline. OKC is getting 86% of ATS handle as five-point road favorites in the NBA public betting splits for Monday. OKC is also getting 82% of moneyline handle as of 11:15 am ET. The Thunder are also receiving over 80% of ATs and moneyline tickets, as well.
The public is hammering the over in Game 4 between the Thunder and Pelicans, putting 87% of game-total handle on over 206 so far.
Balanced Attack Leads Thunder to Lopsided Wins
In Wednesday’s 124-92 home victory, all five OKC starters scored at least 15 points, led by 33 from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 26 from Chet Holmgren. It was a similar story in the 1026-85 win in Game 3 on Saturday, with four starters scoring between 12 and 24 points.
OKC’s defense was smothering last time out, holding the Pelicans to just 38.1% from the floor while forcing 20 turnovers. Holmgren was a menace in the post, accounting for four of the team’s five blocks. OKC had opened a 14-point lead by halftime and wound up winning each of the four quarters.
The only good news for the Pelicans coming out of Saturday’s ugly loss was that Brandon Ingram played his best game since returning from a knee injury that held him out from March 21 to April 14. Ingram had a team-high 19 points and four rebounds on 50% shooting in 37 minutes.
The Pelicans are now just one game over .500 at home for the season as a whole. Every other team remaining in the West is at least nine games over .500 on their home court.
OKC vs NOLA Game 4 Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Ingram (NOLA) | 21.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 5.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) | 4.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 1.5 (Ov +140 | Un -166) |
| Chet Holmgren (OKC) | 15.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 8.5 (Ov -112 | Un -108) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) |
| CJ McCollum (NOLA) | 19.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 4.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 5.5 (Ov -118 | Un -102) | 2.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) |
| Herbert Jones (NOLA) | 11.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 4.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 2.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 1.5 (Ov -166 | Un +140) |
| Jalen Williams (OKC) | 19.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) | 5.5 (Ov +142 | Un -170) | 4.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | 1.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) |
| Josh Giddey (OKC) | 11.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | 6.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 3.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) | 1.5 (Ov +185 | Un -225) |
| Luguentz Dort (OKC) | 9.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) | 3.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -180 | Un +150) |
| Naji Marshall (NOLA) | 6.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) | 3.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 27.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) | 5.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) | 5.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) |
| Trey Murphy III (NOLA) | 15.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) | 5.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) | 2.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) | 2.5 (Ov -148 | Un +124) |
NBA player props as of April 29 at DraftKings.Â
The Game 4 player props show SGA with a game-high point total of 27.5. SGA is averaging 28.3 PPG in the postseason and averaged 30.1 in the regular season. Ingram leads the Pelicans at 21.5. He hasn’t scored more than 19 since returning from his knee injury. Jonas Valanciunas is curiously absent from the list at both DraftKings and FanDuel. NOLA’s starting center played just 12 minutes in Game 3 but isn’t on the Pels’ injury report.
Thunder vs Pelicans Game 4 Predictions
This is the end of the line for the shorthanded Pelicans and I don’t expect it to be close. NOLA is on fumes while the Thunder look like they’re just getting started.
The Pelicans have committed 37 turnovers in the last two games combined and have no semblance of a home-court advantage at the Smoothie King Center. OKC wins Game 4 going away.
OKC vs NOLA Game 4 picks:
- Thunder -5 (-108)
- Ingram under 21.5 points (-118)
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.