Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, NBA Odds
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Edgar Chaput
It’s the new generation of all-stars versus the old guard as Oklahoma’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and LeBron James face each other for the fourth time this season. Or at least that’s what fans are hoping for. James is listed as day-to-day with ankle soreness. Regardless, the challenge is already tall for the Thunder since they played on Sunday night, defeating the Phoenix Suns 118-110. The Lakers have rested since Saturday when they fell to the Denver Nuggets 124-114.
It’s practically even between these sides according to the NBA odds. The Lakers are barely favoured at -1.5.
Thunder vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds
Even though the Lakers are Thunder are experiencing different seasons, the reality is that should L.A. win tonight, they’ll have won three of the four regular season matchups. The purple and gold have won four of the past five meetings, for that matter. Of course, the last time the Thunder won in L.A. was last February when LeBron James became the highest-scoring player in NBA history. Funny that they should visit him two days after he became the first player to hit 40,000 points.
From a betting perspective, the benefit of the Oklahoma City Thunder this season is that expectations were tempered during the first few months. Since the club has wildly outperformed those muted standards, OKC is not only looking great in the standings but against the spread as well with a 38-22 record. Oklahoma has covered seven of its previous eight, the only loss being a shock defeat to the Spurs.
This is a game not only between OKC’s second-best field goal shooting (50.1) and L.A. third-best (49.7) but OKC’s third-best field goal defending (45.1). A lot of great storylines for fans of deep-cut basketball stats.
The Lakers are only 27-35 ATS this season and have covered but one of their last six opportunities. Unfortunately for them, the defence has fallen off a rock from last year. L.A. is 21st in points allowed per game, giving 117.7 a night. That said, the over has connected in only four of the club’s last 10 games, with a push and five to the under.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Playing back-to-back games is never easy. It will be interesting to see if Oklahoma City can carry over the high of Sunday night’s wild 118-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
For the entirety of the first half, the Thunder were indisputably the superior side. Phoenix could not retain possessions, coughing up the ball an incredible 22 times, with OKC happy to oblige with transition points on nearly every occasion. One would have been forgiven for thinking the Thunder were the established and experienced ensemble.
Phoenix didn’t go down without a fight with a great third quarter and even took the lead after trailing by as many as 24. But the Thunder reversed the tide in the fourth thanks to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points, Jalen Williams’ 22, and a trio of Luguentz Dort three-point shots and steals.
Jaylin Williams is listed as day-to-day.
Los Angeles Lakers
In fairness to the Lakers, they have been playing better in recent weeks. Days before the match versus the Nuggets on Saturday, the purple and gold pulled off a stunning comeback against the Clippers.
However, the buck stopped with the defending champs. Both sides shot lights out, going well over 50 per cent, but when it came to rebounding, Denver was in a league of its own, corralling 47 boards to L.A.’s 31. More frustrating is that the Lakers had the Nuggets where they wanted them, leading by eight at the half at home, yet the roles were completely reversed in the third and fourth periods. James finished with 26 points. Unexpectedly, his running mate was Rui Hachimura, who finished with 23 points. Austin Reeves was deadly from long range, going 7-for-12. It would be enough, as the Lakers lost 124-114.
OKC
LAL