Warriors vs Pelicans Prediction, Odds & Injury Updates (Nov. 22)

• We’ve made our Warriors vs Pelicans prediction for Friday night’s NBA Cup game
• The latest Friday NBA odds heavily favor the Warriors on the road
• Read below for Warriors vs Pelicans prediction, odds, and latest injury updates

The 2024 NBA Cup continues Friday night with a lopsided Western Conference matchup. The Golden State Warriors (11-3) visit the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans (4-12) at 7:30 PM EST on ESPN.

This cross-divisional clash features two teams heading in opposite directions early in the season. The Warriors are laying a whopping 9.5 points on the road, with the total set at 222.5.

Here is our Warriors vs Pelicans prediction, along with Friday NBA betting odds and the latest injury updates.

Warriors vs Pelicans Prediction

The Warriors have owned this head-to-head series in recent years, winning 48 of the 76 all-time meetings. They’ve already beaten the Pelicans twice this season, cruising to double-digit victories at home in late October.

Golden State’s dominance over New Orleans is even more impressive, considering Stephen Curry missed both of those games. The two-time MVP is probable to suit up Friday despite dealing with a minor knee issue.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans are one of the most banged-up teams in the league. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray are among the starters currently sidelined, leaving the roster extremely thin.

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With Williamson reportedly “not remotely close” to returning from a hamstring injury, the Pelicans will need to lean heavily on the likes of Jordan Hawkins and Antonio Reeves. The young duo has shown flashes but isn’t ready to carry an NBA offense, especially against an elite defense like Golden State’s.

The Warriors rank 5th in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing just 109.1 points per game. They also lead the league in assists (30.5) and rank 3rd in scoring (119.6).

The Pelicans have the talent to compete when healthy, but they simply don’t have the horses to keep up with the Warriors right now. The absence of Williamson and Ingram, in particular, will be too much to overcome against the deeper, more experienced Dubs.

My prediction is for the Warriors to easily cover the 9.5-point spread on the road and hand the Pelicans their fourth straight loss. The lean is narrowly to the under 222.5 points, with New Orleans’ offensive limitations likely leading to a lower-scoring game.

Friday NBA Pick:

• Warriors -9.5 (-120)

Warriors vs Pelicans Odds

The Warriors are massive 9.5-point road favorites, which translates to an 84.6% implied probability of winning straight up. On the flip side, the Pelicans are +380 moneyline underdogs, giving them just a 20.8% implied probability of pulling off the upset at home.

The game total of 222.5 points suggests oddsmakers are expecting a relatively high-scoring contest despite New Orleans’ injuries. However, the juice is shaded slightly to the under at -115, indicating some skepticism about both teams reaching their usual offensive heights.

Early betting action has been all over Golden State, with 84% of spread bets and 90% of the handle backing the road favorites. This one-sided pattern has caused the line to tick up from Warriors -9 to -9.5 since opening.

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Golden State vs New Orleans Injury Report

Injuries will play a major factor in this matchup, especially for the decimated Pelicans. Willie Green’s squad has six players listed as out and two more questionable, leaving them with a MASH unit supporting cast around Jordan Hawkins and Antonio Reeves.

Getting Curry back would be a big boost for the Warriors, even if he’s not 100%. The main concern is the season-ending loss of De’Anthony Melton, who was a key part of the backcourt rotation. Still, Golden State has the depth to withstand his absence much better than New Orleans can handle its myriad of injuries.