The shock of not having injured superstar DeMarcus Cousins for the season after upsetting the Rockets last Friday hit the Pelicans hard. New Orleans proceeded to lose at home to the Clippers and Kings. The Pelicans were favored in those two games. They aren't favored here. But the spot is right for New Orleans to bounce back. 

It has been a week now since Cousins went down with a ruptured Achilles and the Pelicans are ready to move on. They made an aggressive move trading for Nikola Mirotic, an underrated forward who helped spur the Bulls' turnaround. New Orleans management showed its players they aren't ready to quit on the season despite the loss of Cousins by making that move. 

I believe the Pelicans will show up for this matchup and play hard. New Orleans defeated Oklahoma City, 114-107, when the teams last played on Nov. 20. Cousins was ejected in the third quarter in that game so the Pelicans proved they could win without him. 

The Thunder may be the most overvalued team in the Western Conference. They are 10-21 ATS the past 31 times they've been favored by four or more points. While the Pelicans were idle on Thursday, the Thunder were involved in an intense 127-124 road loss to the Nuggets playing in high altitude. This will be Oklahoma City's fifth game in seven days and second in two nights. 

Russell Westbrook and Paul George have been performing at high levels again. Westbrook, though, played more than 39 minutes last night and George logged more than 36 minutes. Westbrook shoved a fan who came on the court so there's a possibility he could be suspended. 

Oklahoma City's defense has been regressing. The Thunder are giving up an average of 113.2 points in their last seven games. They've gone 1-2 since Andre Roberson, their best defensive player, was lost for the season because of a ruptured patellar tendon.