Warriors vs Pelicans Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Keeping it Tight in the Big Easy

In their own distinct ways, Zion Williamson and Steph Curry are two of the most unique superstars in the NBA — and they go head-to-head tonight as the New Orleans Pelicans host the Golden State Warriors.

The Pelicans moved to 2-0 with a 96-87 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday behind Brandon Ingram's 26 points, and as long as Zion can stay on the court, they belong among the top NBA picks.

But the West is loaded with playoff contenders, including a Golden State team that’s been where New Orleans wants to go. The Warriors, underdogs tonight in the latest NBA odds, have rebounded from a season-opening loss with back-to-back victories and saw off the Houston Rockets 106-95 last night.

Read on for our free NBA picks and predictions for Warriors vs. Pelicans on October 30.

Warriors vs Pelicans odds

Warriors vs Pelicans predictions

The Golden State Warriors’ road woes were one of the NBA’s most perplexing 2022/23 storylines as the 2022 champs went 11-30 away from Chase Center in a roller-coaster title defense. But a new season means a blank slate — and the Warriors are already 2-0 on their travels this season.

Despite heading into the second night of a back-to-back set, I’m picking Steve Kerr’s men to show up again on the road here. As always, it starts with Steph Curry, who put on a 41-point masterclass against the Sacramento Kings on Friday and drilled the draggers that sunk the Rockets last night.

Curry is going to see a lot of the long-armed Herb Jones tonight, but there are other matchups to exploit on switches.

Another reason to believe the Warriors can hold up against a Zion Williamson-led New Orleans Pelicans team is their bench edge, with Chris Paul leading the second unit now that Draymond Green is back from an ankle injury.

Paul’s veteran savvy could well unlock another gear for Golden State and get the best out of youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. The Warriors bench swung last night’s game in Houston as Paul finished as a +22. If CP3 allows the visitors to not just survive but thrive in the non-Curry minutes, that’s a huge upgrade for the visitors.

While New Orleans’ starting five can hang with anyone in the league, its own second unit looked shaky at times against the Knicks on Saturday on the way to just 16 points on 6-for-29 shooting.

The early signs suggest this is a much happier Golden State team than last year’s group, and I’m taking these odds for the Warriors to cover the spread.

My best bet: Warriors +4.5 (-110 at bet365)

Warriors vs Pelicans same-game parlay

Warriors +4.5

Steph Curry Over 4.5 made threes

Jonas Valanciunas double-double — Yes

+575 at bet365

It’s tough to picture Golden State keeping this close without at least a B+ game from Curry, so I’m grabbing a Steph prop alongside the Warriors ATS pick.

Curry has averaged almost 13 attempts a game from deep so far this season and has made six or more 3-pointers in each of his last two outings. I see him knocking down at least five more tonight.

Foul trouble limited Jonas Valanciunas to 21 minutes against New York, but I see him being a key factor against Green and Kevon Looney in the paint. Valanciunas had 12 points and 12 boards in New Orleans’ season opener and this SGP gets a major boost with the odds for the big Lithuanian to finish with a double-double.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Warriors vs Pelicans and Over/Under analysis

The unbeaten Pelicans enter as 4.5-point favorites as they try to cap off a terrific first week, and their 27-14 home record last year is a promising sign of things to come. But the Warriors are well-equipped defensively to slow down New Orleans’ key scorers, and the teams split their four meetings last season.  

I’ve already made the case for Golden State’s superior depth — the visitors played a 10-man rotation against the Rockets, with each player logging at least 17 minutes — and the Warriors were no slouches last year on the second night of back-to-back sets either, putting up a 7-8 mark in those spots.

The 3-pointer feels like the other big X-factor in the visitors’ favor. The Warriors attempted the most triples per game in the league last season, while only the Chicago Bulls averaged fewer than the Pelicans.

With Curry and Klay Thompson combining for 11 threes in the win over Houston, the visitors are heating up — and New Orleans is unlikely to replicate its success of limiting the Knicks to 7-for-37 from 3-point range on the weekend.

Even so, this could be a defense-first matchup. The Pelicans and Knicks combined for just 183 points on Saturday, while the Warriors only scored 106 against the Rockets. I like the Under on the 226-point line tonight.

That’s the way that both teams have trended so far, with the Under hitting in all three of Golden State’s games and both of the Pelicans’ contests too. 

Warriors vs Pelicans betting trend to know

The Warriors are known as a 3Q juggernaut, but they’ve been a lethal 2Q team too. Golden State’s 2Q moneyline is 22-9 in its past 31 road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Pelicans.

Warriors vs Pelicans game info

Warriors vs Pelicans latest injuries

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