New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2015 NBA Playoffs, Western Conference First Round Game 2 – April 20, 2015

Anthony Davis was very, very good in his first ever playoff game, but not quite good enough to beat the best team in the NBA. The Warriors extended their very impressive home winning streak to 19 games, and will be highly favored to make it 20 in Game 2, especially if Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans’ knee injury is worse than anticipated.

Will the Warriors leverage their outstanding home-court advantage to take a commanding 2-0 series lead? Read on below for our preview of Game 2. Also, check out our preview of Tuesday’s other Game 2, the Bucks vs. Bulls.
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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors Game 2 Preview

Series Scores & Schedule

Game 1 — April 18, 3:30 PM ET, New Orleans Pelicans 99 at Golden State Warriors 106

Game 2 — April 20, 10:30 PM ET, New Orleans Pelicans (+11) at Golden State Warriors  (-11); total 205.0 – view all NBA lines

Game 3 — April 23, 9:30 PM ET, Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

Game 4 — April 25, 8:00 PM ET, Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

Game 5* — April 28, Time TBD, New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors

Game 6* — May 1, Time TBD, Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans

Game 7* — May 3, Time TBD, New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors

*If necessary

Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis lived up to – maybe even exceeded – all the hype in his playoff debut. The Brow set a new career-high with 35 points – four points shy of breaking the record for an NBA playoff debut – including 20 in the fourth quarter as he led the Pelicans from a 25-point deficit late in the third quarter to get within four points with nine seconds left.

[sc:NBA240banner ]The Pelicans eventually lost, 106-99, but Davis’ performance shows they won’t be an easy out by any means. Davis once again gave the Warriors’ league-best defense fits as the center in a small-ball lineup featuring Ryan Anderson. He’s now averaged 31 points in his last three games against the Warriors.

The Pelicans could possibly be without Tyreke Evans for Game 2 after he missed the second half of Game 1 due to a knee contusion. But they did just fine without Evans, the team’s second leading scorer (16.6 points) and primary playmaker (6.6 assists), with Norris Cole and Jrue Holiday providing solid minutes at the point.

Holiday (five points, 2-of-7 FGs in Game 1) is still shaking off some rust after missing nearly three months with a leg injury, but Cole (eight points, six assists) had a plus-minus of plus-12 in 34 solid minutes in place of Evans.

The Pelicans will also need Quincy Pondexter to provide more offensive punch, especially if Evans can’t go. Pondexter scored 20 points in Game 1, his third game with 15 or more points against the Warriors this season.

Betting on the Golden State Warriors

For three quarters, the Golden State Warriors looked every bit the 67-15 regular season juggernaut that went 39-2 at home. Stephen Curry was also playing every bit like the MVP-elect, as his 34 points powered the Warriors to a Game 1 win.

The Warriors didn’t play a perfect game by any means, though. They took their foot off the gas in the fourth and were outscored 33-22. They were also uncharacteristically off from the free throw line, with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – 91 and 88 percent shooters, respectively – each missing three free throws.

Golden State won its 19th home game in a row, but it failed to cover the spread for the fourth straight time at the Oracle. The Warriors are just 9-10 against the spread during their impressive home winning streak.

But after basically coasting for the last few weeks with the No. 1 seed all sewn up, that poor fourth quarter could be just the thing that snaps the Warriors back into becoming the home juggernaut they were for most of the season. Remember, this was a team that had a plus-14.6 point differential at the Oracle.

Klay Thompson could also be due for a bounce-back game after scoring 21 points but shooting just 6-of-17 from the field in Game 1. Thompson averages 24 points on 51 percent shooting at home, and went for 29 points per game on 55 percent shooting in his last four regular season home games.

Writer’s Prediction

The Warriors go strong for four quarters this time, and come away with a big 110-94 victory. Create a betting account now and cash in on some of the strongest teams standing in the NBA playoffs.
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