Larry Nance Jr. is feeling confident in his New Orleans Pelicans as they head into the first round of the NBA playoffs against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the Thunder being the clear favorites, Nance expressed his belief in his team’s ability to compete. However, Nance quickly retracted his statement, clarifying that he was not actually placing any bets, especially after the recent incident involving fellow player Jontay Porter, who was issued a lifetime ban for his involvement in wagering on games.
The incident involving Jontay Porter led to the NBA finding that he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and placed bets on games in violation of league rules. Porter’s actions were discovered during an investigation that revealed he had disclosed information about his health status and underperformed in a game as part of a bet placed by an associate. The NBA found that Porter had placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using an associate’s betting account while playing for the Raptors and its G League team.
Despite the distractions caused by the incident involving Jontay Porter, the focus remains on the upcoming playoff series between the Thunder and the Pelicans. The Pelicans earned the No. 8 seed after winning in the play-in tournament, but will likely be without star player Zion Williamson, who is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the first game of the tournament. The series between the Thunder and the Pelicans is set to begin on Sunday, with both teams looking to make their mark in the playoffs and advance to the next round.
Larry Nance Jr.’s initial confidence in the Pelicans reflects the team’s belief in their ability to compete against the top-seeded Thunder. Despite the challenges they face, including injuries to key players and distractions caused by off-court issues, the Pelicans are determined to put forth their best effort in the playoffs. Nance’s retraction of his statement about betting on the Pelicans serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of the game and following league rules at all times.
As the focus shifts to the upcoming playoff series, both the Thunder and the Pelicans will be looking to showcase their talents and advance to the next round. The stakes are high, and both teams will need to bring their A-game in order to come out on top. With the series set to begin on Sunday, fans will be eagerly watching to see how things unfold and which team will ultimately emerge victorious. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage on Fox News Sports as the NBA playoffs continue.
