Pelicans vs. Thunder prediction: Oklahoma City favored to win Tuesday's NBA matchup [1/27/2026]

The Oklahoma City Thunder will square off with the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA action at Paycom Center on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Thunder as the most likely winner of the Pelicans vs. Thunder game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Thunder lineup will feature stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Aaron Wiggins, while the Pelicans will be led by Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and Saddiq Bey.

This article offers further insights into Tuesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Pelicans vs. Thunder prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Tuesday's NBA game between the Pelicans and Thunder 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Thunder an 85% chance of defeating the Pelicans. Our predicted final score has the Thunder winning 122-109.

According to our model, the Pelicans (+14.5) have a 57% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 233.5 points has a 54% chance of staying under.

Pelicans vs. Thunder odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Pelicans	Thunder
Spread	+14.5 (-110)	-14.5 (-108)
Moneyline	+590	-800
Total	o233.5 (-108)	u233.5 (-110)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Pelicans vs. Thunder picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Pelicans +14.5	-110
Moneyline	Pelicans	+590
Total	Under 233.5	-110

According to our best NBA bets for Tuesday, the top play to make on this game is Pelicans +14.5 at the spread.

Pelicans vs. Thunder player props

NBA prop bets are an exciting way to wager on Tuesday's Pelicans vs. Thunder game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Paycom Center.

Zion Williamson is expected to lead the Pelicans with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is projected to have 34 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the Thunder.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Pelicans prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Pelicans are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Zion Williamson	23	6	5	0	42
Trey Murphy	21	6	3	3	40
Saddiq Bey	15	6	2	2	29
Jeremiah Fears	10	3	2	1	21
Derik Queen	10	7	4	0	29

Thunder prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Thunder:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
S. Gilgeous-Alexander	34	5	7	2	57
Chet Holmgren	18	9	2	2	40
Aaron Wiggins	14	4	3	2	29
Isaiah Joe	12	3	2	3	22
Luguentz Dort	11	4	1	2	24

Pelicans vs. Thunder game-day updates and essential details

Tuesday's action between the Thunder and Pelicans at Paycom Center is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Paycom Center

Conclusion

We predict the Thunder, with an 85% win probability, will likely beat the Pelicans on Tuesday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander projected for a game-high 57 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pelicans vs. Thunder insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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