Oklahoma vs Pelicans Prediction 28 January 2026
🔊 Can the hosts showcase an effective defense? In this NBA regular season matchup, Oklahoma will host New Orleans. The reigning champions are struggling to find their winning form. Facing one of the tournament's weakest teams is an opportunity to turn things around. Above all, Thunder are expected to show improvement on their defensive end.
Head-to-Head
📊 Statistical analysis of previous official games between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans:
- 55 games played;
- victories (including overtime): 39 for the home team today and 16 for the visitors;
- the hosts average 110.58 points per game, while the visitors average 103.53;
- average total score per game is 214.11.
The last encounter took place on 18 November 2025 at the New Orleans Pelicans' court and ended with a score of 109-126.
Head-to-head statistics Oklahoma - Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Overview
Oklahoma, to much surprise, have suffered 3 losses in their last 5 games. They recently fell to Toronto with a score of 101-103. Before that, they faced a setback against Indiana (114-117). It's clear that these results have dealt a significant blow to the players' pride. They will undoubtedly put in maximum effort to turn things around. Their defense remains one of the best in the league, conceding only 107.9 points on average.
It's important to note that the hosts are missing several key players from their starting lineup. Notably, Caruso and Hartenstein are out due to injuries. Without them, the defense doesn't seem as solid. However, the Thunder have an exceptional level of cohesion. They are capable of dominating under the rim, which could neutralize some of the Pelicans' key players.
Match Results: Oklahoma City Thunder
New Orleans Pelicans Team Overview
New Orleans continue to languish at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The team has a winning percentage of just 25%, buoyed only by recent successes. For instance, they unexpectedly outplayed San Antonio with a 104-95 victory. Prior to that, they managed to outgun Memphis (133-127). However, it's unlikely they'll gain significant momentum in the upcoming matchup, as they face Oklahoma, who force opponents into mistakes with near-elite efficiency. Such a young squad is unlikely to be the exception.
Currently, the Pelicans are relatively complete in terms of their lineup. Yet, this is unlikely to provide them with any substantial advantage. One might anticipate a similar scenario to what occurred against San Antonio: a reduction in shot attempts. Not all players will be able to make their mark. Yes, Williamson and a few others might deliver standout moments, but that's about it. On average, they score just 114.8 points per game.
Match Results: New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction for the 1st quarter
Head-to-Head Matches:
- Total encounters - 55;
- First quarter wins at home for the hosts - 19; for the visitors on the road - 7;
- Average total points in the first quarter: 55.04;
- Today's home team averages 29.55, while the visitors average 25.49.
First Quarter Stats: Oklahoma City Thunder (home) vs New Orleans Pelicans (away)
- Tournament matches played: 26 vs 23;
- Number of wins: 16 (61.54%) vs 7 (30.43%);
- Number of losses: 7 (26.92%) vs 14 (60.87%);
- Number of draws: 3 (11.54%) vs 2 (8.7%).
- Average points scored: 30.77 vs 26.7;
- Average points conceded: 26.88 vs 30.87.
Last 10 Matches (Overall):
- Number of wins: 7 vs 2;
- Number of losses: 3 vs 6;
- Number of draws: 0 vs 2;
- Average first quarter total: 58.1 (scored - 30.6, conceded - 27.5) vs 59.3 (scored - 28.6, conceded - 30.7).
- Under 61.5 points in the 1st quarter in last 15 Oklahoma City Thunder home games against New Orleans Pelicans (NBA).
- Under 61.5 points in the 1st quarter in 9 of last 10 Oklahoma City Thunder games against New Orleans Pelicans (NBA).
Prediction on the outcome
H2H:
- Number of encounters - 55;
- Home team wins - 39, away team wins - 16.
- Oklahoma City Thunder won with a -9.5 points handicap in last 6 games against New Orleans Pelicans (NBA).
Prediction on the over/under
H2H:
- average total points per match for the home team - 110.58, for the away team - 103.53;
- average total points in H2H matches - 214.11.
Statistics: Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans
- average total in the tournament: 227.6 vs 236.23;
- average total points scored: 119.55 vs 115.37;
- average total points conceded: 108.06 vs 120.87;
- average total points scored in the 1st half: 59.85 vs 57.63;
- average total points scored in the 2nd half: 58.49 vs 56.92;
- Oklahoma City Thunder: average total points scored at home in the tournament - 120;
- New Orleans Pelicans: average total points scored away in the tournament - 112.35;
- last 10 matches (average total points scored): 119.3 (home - 117.4) vs 114.8 (away - 116).
- New Orleans Pelicans have scored under 109.5 points in last 10 games against Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA).
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Bookmakers have Oklahoma as the favorites. Playing at home, the team is poised to bounce back from recent setbacks. The players are fully motivated. In tactical, technical, and other aspects, the Thunder hold a significant advantage. New Orleans often plays with a reckless style, and certain players can capitalize on this to the fullest. However, the structured approach of the champions should prevail. It's unlikely that one of the tournament's weakest teams will force their esteemed opponents to speed up their play. More likely, the opposite will happen. Our editorial team recommends considering a bet on under 236.5 total points.No comments
Betting Tips: Oklahoma City Thunder - New Orleans Pelicans
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