Pelicans vs. Warriors: The best player prop bets for Nov. 5

NBA fans will get to see some of their favorite players in street clothes on Friday night when the red-hot Golden State Warriors (6-1) host the cellar-dwelling New Orleans Pelicans (1-8).

Small forward Brandon Ingram has been nursing a right hip contusion for the past three games and is questionable, while Zion Williamson is out while he continues to rehab from foot surgery. The 21-year-old star has progressed to on-the-court work, which must be a relief to team officials since it looks like he’s spent the past four months focusing on in-the-kitchen work.

Their absence has resulted in five-straight loses for the Pels, who are still reeling from the offseason departures of point guard Lonzo Ball and center Steven Adams.

It’s a far sunnier story in San Francisco, where the Warriors have won two straight and are cresting above the Pacific Division. The secret to Golden State's success has been a commitment to playing hard at both ends of the court, as Steve Kerr's crew leads the NBA in defensive rating and is second in effective field goal percentage.

We've examined the matchup closely and have the three best player prop bets below. 

Draymond Green Over/Under 8.5 points

If the NBA had a patron saint for passing up free shots it would be Draymond Green. The three-time champ is attempting just 6.3 field goals per game, which is 3.8 fewer than his first All-Star season in 2015-16. And it’s not as if he’s just eschewing contested threes or bank shots from behind the baseline. Green is actively – nay, enthusiastically – avoiding layups and bunnies in the lane. The NBA hasn’t seen this kind of aversion to scoring points since Dennis Rodman’s glory days with the Chicago Bulls.

As a result of his aversion to shooting, Green is averaging just 8.7 points per game this season, and is coming off a five-point performance against the Hornets in which he attempted just five field goals in 35 minutes. He’s still capable of scoring when the Warriors need it, but with Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole providing points, Green will focus on being a defender and distributor instead. Ride the Under.

Pick: Under 8.5 points

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Steph Curry Over/Under 4.5 3-point field goals made

It’s safe to say that Steph Curry enjoys playing against the Pelicans. The 33-year-old sharpshooter is averaging 26.3 points in 32 career games against NOLA. That includes a 53-point masterpiece in 2015 and five more 40-point gems. There was also that time in 2016 when he just happened to hit an NBA-record 13 3-pointers against the Pels. 

Don't expect another baker's dozen from Chef Curry tonight, but you can still look forward to a barrage of 3-pointers. The two-time MVP is  averaging 4.9 3-point field goals this season, and has already hit five or more 3s in a game three times this year. Combine that with the fact that the Pelicans are allowing opposing teams to hit 38% of their treys, and you have a recipe for a whole lotta deep daggers.

Pick: Over 4.5 3-point field goals made

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Andrew Wiggins Over/Under 4.5 rebounds

Much has been made of the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers whiffed by selecting Andrew Wiggins first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft when players like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Julius Randle were available. However, lost in the criticism is the fact that Wiggins has developed into a very good complimentary player. 

The 26-year-old small forward is a tenacious perimeter defender who terrorizes opposing teams in transition, keeps the ball moving on offense, and has become a dependable marksman from deep. Wiggins is nailing a career-high 39% of his 3-point attempts and should get even more clean looks when Klay Thompson eventually returns to action.

In the meantime, expect Wiggins to make an impact on the glass tonight. "Maple Jordan" is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game in 2021-22, and has already grabbed five rebounds or more three times this season. It helps, of course, that he'll be facing the Williamson-less Pelicans, who rank 13th in the league in defensive rebounds by opponents.

Pick: Over 4.5 rebounds