New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction and Picks - November 2, 2025
Use Code WWWC NBA action on Sunday afternoon, and we have a New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder prediction locked and loaded for you. The Pelicans are off to a rough 0-5 start to the season, which includes a 126-124 loss at the Clippers on Friday night. Oklahoma City comes in off a 127-108 home win over Washington, which improved them to 6-0 on the year. Read on to see our Thunder vs Pelicans prediction.
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Pelicans Still Looking For First Win
The Pelicans are still searching for their first win of the season, and Friday night’s loss to the Clippers was another gut punch. They fought back from 17 down in the second half, tied it late on Zion Williamson’s free throws, only to watch Kawhi Leonard bury a buzzer-beater to hand them a 126-124 defeat. Zion was terrific with 29 points, while Jordan Poole caught fire from deep, hitting seven threes on his way to 30. It was the kind of offensive performance that should have been enough, but New Orleans’ defense once again couldn’t get stops when it mattered most.
This has been the story of their season so far: flashes of brilliance on offense, but not enough consistency to close games. Zion has been carrying the load, averaging over 23 points per game, and Trey Murphy III has chipped in as a reliable secondary scorer. Rookie Jeremiah Fears has shown poise beyond his years, putting up 13 points and eight assists against the Clippers without a single turnover. The talent is there, but the Pelicans are still trying to piece it together without Dejounte Murray, who remains sidelined with an Achilles injury, and Kevon Looney, who is nursing a knee sprain.
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Defensively, New Orleans has been one of the league’s weakest units, giving up more than 123 points per game. They’ve struggled to defend the perimeter, and opponents are shooting 50% from the field against them. That’s a dangerous recipe heading into Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are rolling and have multiple weapons who can exploit mismatches. If the Pelicans are going to have any chance of pulling off the upset, they’ll need to tighten up defensively and hope their young backcourt can keep pace with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Another Great Start For The Thunder
The Thunder, on the other hand, look every bit like a team ready to defend their crown. They improved to 6-0 after a 127-108 win over Washington on Thursday, a game where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again set the tone with 31 points. Isaiah Joe returned from injury and immediately gave them a lift, knocking down five threes and finishing with 20 points. Ajay Mitchell added another 20 off the bench, showing just how deep this roster is even with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams sidelined. Oklahoma City forced 22 turnovers in that game and turned defense into offense, which has been their calling card during this hot start.
Shai has been nothing short of dominant, averaging over 34 points per game while still distributing and rebounding at a high level. He’s been the steady hand that keeps everything flowing, and the Thunder’s role players have thrived around him. Holmgren’s absence hasn’t slowed them down much because of the way Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped in as a reliable rebounder and rim protector. The Thunder are also getting contributions from everywhere—whether it’s Dort’s defense, Joe’s shooting, or Mitchell’s spark off the bench, they’ve shown they can win in multiple ways.
Defensively, Oklahoma City has been elite, ranking near the top of the league in defensive rating and holding opponents to just 110 points per game. They swarm the ball, force turnovers, and rarely give up easy looks. Against a Pelicans team that has been careless at times and struggles to defend in transition, the Thunder’s style is a nightmare matchup. Add in the fact that Oklahoma City has beaten New Orleans ten straight times, including a playoff sweep in 2024, and it’s hard not to see this as another opportunity for them to flex their dominance at home.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick
Thunder vs Pelicans Spread Pick
- Oklahoma City -12.5 (5 Units)
Laying the -12.5 with Oklahoma City makes sense given how dominant they’ve looked to start the season. The Thunder are 6-0, winning by an average margin of nearly 15 points, and they’ve been suffocating defensively while still pushing the pace offensively. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been unstoppable, averaging over 34 points per game, and the supporting cast has stepped up with Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, and Ajay Mitchell all contributing in key spots. Even without Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, OKC hasn’t missed a beat, and their ability to force turnovers and turn them into transition buckets makes them especially dangerous against a Pelicans team that has been careless with the ball.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is still winless and struggling to close games despite strong efforts from Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole. The Pelicans are giving up over 123 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, and they’ve been particularly vulnerable on the perimeter—an area where the Thunder thrive. With Oklahoma City’s depth, defensive intensity, and history of dominating this matchup (ten straight wins over New Orleans, including last year’s playoff sweep), this sets up as another spot where the Thunder can pull away and cover comfortably.
Thunder vs Pelicans Over/Under Pick
- Under 229.5 (4 Units)
The under 229.5 looks like the right angle because Oklahoma City’s defense has been elite, holding opponents to just 110 points per game, while New Orleans has struggled to finish possessions cleanly and often slows down late in games. The Pelicans lean heavily on Zion in the half court, and without Dejounte Murray, their pace has dipped, which plays into the Thunder’s ability to control tempo. With OKC’s swarming defense forcing turnovers and limiting efficiency, and New Orleans unlikely to keep up in a shootout, this matchup projects more as a grind than a track meet.
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