Thunder vs. Lakers Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Charlie Grant
The Lakers are home underdogs on Wednesday night as they continue to plow through without LeBron James. Los Angeles welcomes Paul George, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the Thunder for the two teams first game of 2019.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
OKC took down Dallas in the second game of a home-and-home set. The Thunder improved to 23-13 straight up and 20-16 against the spread (ATS) on the campaign. The club is playing for the third time in four nights and is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight games playing on one day of rest.
The Thunder are 6-7 ATS as away favourites this season, and 0-2 SU and ATS in their last two games against the Lakers. The Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings between these two Western Conference teams.
L.A. took care of the Kings on Sunday night and earned its first victory since LeBron James went on the injury shelf with a pulled groin. The Lakers are 3-5 SU in their last eight games but 3-1 against the number in their last four contests.
The Purple and Gold remain one of the worst bets against the spread in the NBA. Only the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks have fewer ATS wins this season than the Lakers.
The under has been a profitable way to bet on Laker games. The under is 22-14-1 in the team’s 37 games. The under is 5-2 in the Lakers’ last seven games overall and 13-3-1 in their last 17 games at Staples Center.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook broke out of his recent shooting slump. The 2017 MVP winner scored 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting from the field. This on the heels of his first of a 4-for-22 performance, and few other stinkers in his last 10 games.
Paul George has been the most consistent player for the Thunder this season. The All-Star wing player is averaging 26.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game – both career highs for him. George is second in the league is steals and fourth in made 3s per game.
Los Angeles Lakers
Kyle Kuzma is taking over as the centrepiece of the Laker offence with LeBron in street clothes. The second year forward is averaging 25 points, 5 assists and 8.7 rebounds over the last three games.
Brandon Ingram is the other player stepping up for the Purple and Gold. He flirted with a triple double in the last win over the Kings and he’s scored 14 points or more in each game since he came back from his ankle injury in the middle of December.
