NBA Playoffs Betting Preview and Prediction: Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

April 23, 2015 by R Keough

“NBA Playoffs Betting Preview and Prediction: Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans – Between the Chalk”

9:30 PM ET, April 23, 2015
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

The New Orleans Pelicans (45-39, 47-37-0 ATS) head home trying to begin to even the series down 0-2 to the Golden State Warriors (69-15, 47-36-1 ATS) on Thursday night at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

The Pelicans may have a better chance at achieving a comeback than most gave them credit for, showing they just may have what it takes if they can put together a solid 48-minutes against the NBA’s number one seed.

Experts using bookie software such as Premier Per Head local bookmaking software online currently have the Warriors 5-point road favorites with the total set at 203. Bettors who prefer totals betting know the Warriors are 39-44-1 and the Pelicans 42-41-1 against the number this season.

In game one on Saturday, Golden State got out to a quick 15-point lead after the first quarter, increased that to 18 at the half and to 25 late in the third. The Warriors watched that turn into a four-point deficit in the final minutes, with Golden State hanging on for a 106-99 win.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 34 points and added 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Andrew Bogut had a strong game with a game high 14 rebounds with 12 points, 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals, while Draymond Green had a stat line of 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

Anthony Davis led all players with 35 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to go along with 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 assists and 1 steal. Quincy Pondexter played well with 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.

In game 2 on Monday, New Orleans got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 13-point first quarter lead, but the Warriors showed their teeth with a strong second quarter to go into the half with a 55-52 lead.

The teams combined to score only 35-third quarter points with Golden State putting it away in the fourth to take a 2-0 series lead with a 97-87 win. The Warriors showed why they are the NBA’s top defense allowing only 35-second half points.

Pay Per Head bookmaking agents watched as Curry was only 9 for 21 from the field to finish with 22 points, while Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 26 points. Bogut had his way under the boards again to lead all players with 14 rebounds with Green finishing with 14 points, 12 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals and a block.

Golden State had the best road record of any NBA team this year, losing only 13-games, although their last road loss was in New Orleans on April 7th, a game agents using local bookie software online had the Warriors 4.5-point road favorites. These two have now played six times this year, with Golden State 5-1. Both are 3-3 ATS and played to the UNDER three times, OVER two times and a push.

NBA Playoffs Betting Prediction

New Orleans has showed they have what it takes to beat Golden State, but as I stated earlier, they need to show it for a full game. The Pelicans hope the hometown crowd will be the difference tonight, giving them the energy to finish strong in the final minutes.

The Pelicans need to contain Stephen Curry again, and get a solid effort from the whole team, but they will pull out their first win of the series at home tonight in a close one.