Time: 8 p.m. ET
Spread: Warriors -2.5 (-110) | Pelicans +2.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Warriors (-120) | Pelicans (+143)
Total: Under 214.5 (-110) | Over 214.5 (-110)
Injuries: Warriors F Andre Iguodala—Out; Warriors F Otto Porter Jr.—Out; Warriors C James Wiseman—Out

Golden State lost for the first time in 2022 Wednesday night after scoring consecutive wins to begin the New Year. It was an uncharacteristic loss for the Warriors, who scored just 82 points against the Mavericks on a night where Steph Curry shot 5-of-24. Thursday’s game against the Pelicans could reportedly be their final game this season without Klay Thompson, who hasn’t played since the 2019 Finals and is expected to return Sunday.

The Warriors won 125-86 when these teams met for the first time back in November. In recent weeks, Golden State’s offense has slid to No. 11 (110.5 PPG), though it still holds the honor of being the NBA’s stingiest defense (101.4 PPG).

The Pelicans’ schedule doesn’t ease up when they welcome the Warriors to New Orleans. They dropped three games in a row to the Bucks, Jazz and Suns—all by 10 or more points. Still playing without Zion Williamson, New Orleans is led by Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas in the scoring department. The Pelicans are getting scoring contributions from all over the roster with a different leading scorer in six games in a row.

New Orleans is in the basement of the Western Conference without its star and ranks in the bottom third of the league in offense (105.4 PPG) and defense (110.7 PPG). One facet of the game the Pelicans have the Warriors beat in is rebounding—they rank fourth in the league, grabbing 46.8 boards per game.

Kyle Wood’s bets

Spread pick: Warriors -2.5

It’s hard to imagine Golden State losing two games in a row for the first time this season, even after its lifeless performance in Dallas. The Warriors have been phenomenal Against the Spread (ATS) with a 23-13-2 record. New Orleans is among the league’s worst teams ATS (16-22). The previous meeting this season and the Pelicans’ recent performances against the league’s best teams don’t inspire much confidence in them, even on their home court.

Over/Under pick: Over 214.5

The Pelicans have scored 100 or more points in nine straight games, which isn’t much of an accomplishment in the modern NBA. However, when pitted against a team like the Warriors, who average better than 110 PPG, breaking triple digits is all New Orleans needs to do to go over this low total. Both teams’ games go under more than half the time, but I like them to buck that trend.

Prop: Josh Hart Over 7.5 Rebounds

Hart is second on the team in rebounds, snatching up 7.4 per game. He’s gone over this figure in his last four games and reached 10 or more rebounds in three of those games, all while playing big minutes. I also like Hart to go over 4.5 assists—he’s done so in seven of his last 10 games.

Guest picker Pat Benson’s bets

As soon as you thought the Warriors dynasty died alongside Oracle Arena, the team reanimated like Michael Meyers on Halloween night. They are tied for the best record in the NBA and have won seven of their last 10 games.

Sure, Stephen Curry is still putting up 27 points per game, but this iteration of the Warriors is a different beast. Not only do they have the second-best net rating, but they have the best defensive rating in the league. General Manager Bob Meyers and head coach Steve Kerr have assembled the perfect supporting cast around Curry. Don’t forget Klay Thompson is about to make his long-awaited return next week.

Meanwhile, in the Big Easy, basketball ops couldn’t be worse. The Pelicans had an unproductive offseason, botched the Zion Williamson situation, and are speeding toward the draft lottery. Brandon Ingram has been thrust in the role of number one option, which is one of the few reasons for watching this team until Zion returns.

Spread pick: Warriors -2.5

Take the Warriors. They cover the spread nearly 63% of the time, third-best in the NBA. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are a disheartening 16-22 against the spread (24th in the NBA). Even worse, their bottom-six defense will be outmatched by the revamped Warriors.

Over/Under pick: Over 214.5

The Warriors don’t need much help to nail the over. They score 110.5 points per game. Meanwhile, the Pels are riding a three-game losing streak where they’ve given up an average of 125 points per game. This game is going over 214.5 points.

Prop: Brandon Ingram Under 22.5 Points

Ingram averages 22.2 points per game. He’s not exceeding his average against the best defense in the league. Take the under on him scoring 22.5 points.