The Golden State Warriors are enjoying a hot start to the 2021-22 NBA season, and they will aim to continue it on Friday. The Warriors are 6-1 overall and on a four-game winning streak as the New Orleans Pelicans arrive in San Francisco. The Pelicans are just 1-8 on the season, scuffling without Zion Williamson (foot), who remains out. Brandon Ingram (hip) is questionable for the Pelicans, with Klay Thompson (Achilles) and James Wiseman (knee) remaining sidelined and Draymond Green (knee) questionable for the Warriors.
Tip-off is at 10 p.m. ET in San Francisco. Golden State is a 9.5-point favorite in the latest Warriors vs. Pelicans odds at Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points is listed at 214. Before making any Pelicans vs. Warriors picks or NBA predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model finished up almost $600 on its top-rated picks last season and enters Week 3 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 106-71 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Warriors vs. Pelicans and just locked in its coveted picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pelicans vs. Warriors:
- Warriors vs. Pelicans spread: Warriors -9.5
- Warriors vs. Pelicans over-under: 214 points
- Warriors vs. Pelicans money line: Warriors -475, Pelicans +360
- NOP: The Pelicans are 4-5 against the spread this season
- GSW: The Warriors are 4-3 against the spread in 2021-22
Featured Game | Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Why the Pelicans can cover
New Orleans is missing Williamson, making life a bit more difficult for the team to score efficiently. However, the Pelicans have received high-end contributions from both Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte’ Graham to bridge the gap. Valanciunas is putting up 19.2 points and 14.1 rebounds per game, with Graham adding 17.0 points, 5.4 assists and high-end shooting prowess. The Pelicans are also one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA on either side of the floor.
New Orleans is grabbing 30.4 percent of available offensive rebounds and 76.7 percent of available defensive rebounds. The Pelicans are also making 81.3 percent of their free throws, with a defense that is walling off and allowing only 11.3 second-chance points per game. Golden State is playing quite well, but the Warriors are a bottom-tier team in offensive rebounding that ranks below the league average in ball security and free-throw creation on the offensive side.
Why the Warriors can cover
In addition to home-court advantage and a large edge in season-long performance when compared to the Pelicans, the Warriors also have Stephen Curry as the best player on the floor. Curry is averaging 26.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game this season, and he is the game’s best and most prolific 3-point shooter. The Warriors are out-scoring opponents by 11.6 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the floor, and he also leads the NBA’s best passing offense, with league-leading marks in assists (29.3 per game) and assist percentage (71.7 percent) due to his off-ball movement and creativity.
Golden State is also leading the NBA in defensive rating through seven games, holding opponents to less than a point per possession. The Warriors have talent at every position, a superstar to lead the way, and a head coach in Steve Kerr that is a proven key to success on the bench.
How to make Pelicans vs. Warriors picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 215 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Warriors vs. Pelicans? And which side of the spread hits in over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
