New Orleans Pelicans vs Golden State Warriors prediction

Recent results

• New Orleans Pelicans: 4 wins from the last 5, average margin +7.2 points (L 109–115 v MIN, W 120–113 v UTAH, W 135–134 @ MEM, W 121–99 v ATL, W 132–120 v SAC).
• Golden State Warriors: 5 wins from the last 5, average margin +11.8 points (W 126–119 v ORL, W 120–100 v MIA, W 116–113 v PHX, W 124–112 v LAC, W 112–95 v LAL).

This is the first meeting between these teams this season. Results are taken from final scores, most recent first.

Preview

Golden State Warriors are our pick at home against the New Orleans Pelicans. The model gives them a 71% chance of winning, which makes this game a 65%+ top pick.

On the rosters we expect, Golden State Warriors rate as the stronger team (96.2 to 95.0 on our team-strength rating), and that is the main reason for the pick.

Recent form: New Orleans Pelicans have been losing by 0.6 points a game, while Golden State Warriors have been winning by 2.3 points a game.

Schedule: New Orleans Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back, which the model takes into account.

Injuries: Yves Missi (questionable) may not play for New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors will be without Jimmy Butler III (31 min a game), Moses Moody (28 min a game) and Kristaps Porzingis (23 min a game). Players listed as unsure are counted by how likely they are to play.

Season so far: New Orleans Pelicans are 4–5 and Golden State Warriors are 7–3.

What could change the pick: late injury news. We re-check every 15 minutes until game time, then the pick is frozen and stays on our public record, win or lose.

This is one of our top picks: Golden State Warriors at 71% to win.