On the flip side, Brooklyn has begun its intermittent period without Kevin Durant, who will be out for several more weeks due to a right knee sprain. Of note, this game features the Nets’ fifth-ranked defence against the Thunder’s seventh best attack.

The Nets are favoured by -5.5 on the NBA odds and the over-under is pinned at 229.

Thunder vs. Nets NBA Betting Odds

The visitors have claimed each of the last five bouts. Dating back to January 2020, the Nets have conquered twice in Oklahoma OKC has thrice in Brooklyn. Not that this matters too much, but NBA repeatedly schedules these sides to meet in the month of January. Sunday marks the fifth time on six occasions that tip-off happens in the first month of the calendar year.

As we mentioned in the Thunder-Bulls preview, Oklahoma is playing mighty fine basketball. As much as it pleases their fans to see OKC battle for a playoff spot, the organization’s relative success is also giving betters reasons to smile. The Thunder are a terrific 27-16 ATS this campaign and have impressively covered five consecutive times and six out of seven. Furthermore, the last three were all road challenges.

It’s a different story for the Nets. A disastrous start to the season translated to a mediocre tally with respect to covering spreads. As has been written a lot lately, Brooklyn then went on a blistering run of convincing victories. Since Jan. 4 though they’re only 1-3 ATS and, worse, won’t have Durant until at least early February. Whether the side’s 21-20 ATS record improves or worsens is anybody’s guess.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Thanks in large part to the side’s two away victories earlier this week (in Philadelphia and Chicago), Mark Daigneault’s troupe is knocking on the door of a play-in spot. 20-23 doesn’t look great on paper but reading between the lines points to a team that is surging a the right time: the second half of the season.

What made their wins more impressive is that they demonstrate how OKC is learning to win away from home. In Chicago, burgeoning star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company demonstrated poise in a contest that wasn’t back-and-forth, but whenever OKC tried pulling away, the Bulls climbed back into the contest. As they had done to Philly, the Thunder stormed through Chicago’s rim and pain protection, winning that battle 64-44, en route to a 124-110 final score. Three players with over 20 points will always help the cause: Josh Giddey (25), Jalen Williams (22), and Gilgeous-Alexander (21).

Brooklyn Nets

Yes, Brooklyn failed to defend home court in their first contest without KD. Also true is that they failed to put the Celtics away after an admirable first-half effort. Nevertheless, the 109-98 wasn’t an embarrassment. Brooklyn won the first quarter by two, the third by one, and lost the second by only five. They even shot better than Boston from beyond the arc (38.2 per cent to 33.3 per cent). The problem was the final frame, in which Boston, with Jaylen Brown missing, simply took command because they’re on a fire and lead the Eastern Conference.

Rebounding was a major concern and got worse down the stretch, as they lost that battle 48-31. Truth be told, they have bench player T.J. Warren to thank. When subbed in he contributed a terrific 20 points in support of Kyrie Irving’s 24. The conversation Friday morning was all about Ben Simmons. Nine rebounds and 13 assists sound wonderful. 0 points, much less so.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Thunder vs. Nets?

• Regular Season

Thunder Team Leaders

OKC

Points	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.3
Assists	Josh Giddey 6.12
Rebounds	Josh Giddey 7.87
FG%	Dario Saric 52.4
Steals	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1.65
Blocks	Aleksej Pokusevski 1.32

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 8.42
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.17
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.2
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.44
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

• Regular Season

Nets Team Leaders

OKC

Points	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.3
Assists	Josh Giddey 6.12
Rebounds	Josh Giddey 7.87
FG%	Dario Saric 52.4
Steals	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1.65
Blocks	Aleksej Pokusevski 1.32

BK

Points	Kyrie Irving 27.1
Assists	Spencer Dinwiddie 8.42
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.17
FG%	Nic Claxton 70.2
Steals	Cameron Johnson 1.44
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.49

Injuries

Oklahoma City

Kenrich Williams (SG)

out for season Wrist - 01 / 03 / 23

Eugene Omoruyi (SF)

Ques Wed Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23

Dario Saric (SF)

Ques Wed Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23

Jalen Williams (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 31 / 01 / 23

Luguentz Dort (SG)

Prob Fri Hamstring - 26 / 01 / 23

Eugene Omoruyi (SF)

Out indefinitely Back - 15 / 01 / 23

Isaiah Joe (PG)

Prob Sun Illness - 13 / 01 / 23

Jaylin Williams (PF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 04 / 01 / 23

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG)

Prob Wed Illness - 03 / 01 / 23

Aleksej Pokusevski (PF)

Early April Knee - 28 / 12 / 22

Brooklyn

Edmond Sumner (PG)

Ques Sun Hip - 26 / 03 / 23

Seth Curry (SG)

Ques Sun Personal - 24 / 03 / 23

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Tues Wrist - 20 / 03 / 23

Nic Claxton (C)

Prob Fri Thumb - 08 / 03 / 23

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Fri Knee - 08 / 03 / 23

Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)

Prob Fri Rest - 08 / 03 / 23

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Fri Knee - 08 / 03 / 23

Yuta Watanabe (SG)

Ques Sun Back - 28 / 02 / 23

Edmond Sumner (PG)

Prob Tues Personal - 28 / 02 / 23

Ben Simmons (SG)

out for season Back - 23 / 02 / 23

Injuries

Oklahoma City

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kenrich Williams (SG)	out for season	Wrist - 01 / 03 / 23	5-4	6-2-1	+ -
Williams is out for the remainder of the season while recuperating from surgery to repair a scapholunate ligament rupture in his left wrist.
Eugene Omoruyi (SF)	Ques Wed	Ankle - 13 / 02 / 23	7-5	8-5-1	+ -
Omoruyi missed the previous contest due to a left ankle sprain, leaving it up in the air whether he will be active Wednesday versus the Rockets.
Dario Saric (SF)	Ques Wed	Acquired - 10 / 02 / 23	8-5	9-5-1	+ -
Saric was recently acquired through a trade, and it is unclear if he will suit up Wednesday against the Rockets.
Jalen Williams (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 31 / 01 / 23	10-8	12-7-1	+ -
Williams is nursing a left ankle injury, but it is likely that he will face the Rockets on Wednesday.
Luguentz Dort (SG)	Prob Fri	Hamstring - 26 / 01 / 23	11-9	13-8-1	+ -
Dort has been out of action due to a right hamstring strain, but he is expected to return against the Trail Blazers on Friday.
Eugene Omoruyi (SF)	Out indefinitely	Back - 15 / 01 / 23	14-9	14-11-1	+ -
Omoruyi is out of action with lower-back soreness, and there is no timetable for return.
Isaiah Joe (PG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 13 / 01 / 23	15-9	15-11-1	+ -
Joe missed the previous game with an illness, but he is likely to suit up against the Nets on Sunday.
Jaylin Williams (PF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 04 / 01 / 23	19-11	20-12-1	+ -
Williams sat out the last game with a left ankle sprain, and it is expected that he will face the Mavericks on Sunday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG)	Prob Wed	Illness - 03 / 01 / 23	19-11	20-12-1	+ -
Gilgeous-Alexander missed the last game with an illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Wednesday versus the Magic.
Aleksej Pokusevski (PF)	Early April	Knee - 28 / 12 / 22	20-13	22-13-1	+ -
Pokusevski is sidelined with a left tibial plateau non-displaced fracture, and he is expected to remain out of action until the beginning of April.

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Edmond Sumner (PG)	Ques Sun	Hip - 26 / 03 / 23	1-4	2-3	+ -
Sumner exited the last match due to a right hip injury, leaving his status for Sunday's contest with the Magic up in the air.
Seth Curry (SG)	Ques Sun	Personal - 24 / 03 / 23	0-4	1-3	+ -
Curry was absent from the previous game due to a personal matter, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up Sunday against the Magic.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Tues	Wrist - 20 / 03 / 23	0-2	0-2	+ -
Finney-Smith is hindered by a right wrist contusion, but it is likely that he will be active for Tuesday's clash with the Cavaliers.
Nic Claxton (C)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 08 / 03 / 23	6-0	2-4	+ -
Claxton was held out of the last tilt on account of a right thumb sprain and left Achilles tendinopathy. It is predicted that he will face off with the Timberwolves on Friday.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 08 / 03 / 23	6-0	2-4	+ -
O'Neale missed the previous match with left knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will participate against the Timberwolves on Friday.
Spencer Dinwiddie (PG)	Prob Fri	Rest - 08 / 03 / 23	6-0	2-4	+ -
Dinwiddie was absent from the last game for rest purposes, but it is forecasted that he will be active Friday versus the Timberwolves.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 08 / 03 / 23	6-0	2-4	+ -
Johnson sat out the last contest while managing right knee soreness, but it is expected that he will suit up for Friday's showdown with the Timberwolves.
Yuta Watanabe (SG)	Ques Sun	Back - 28 / 02 / 23	7-2	4-5	+ -
Watanabe has missed the last three games due to back soreness, and it has yet to be determined if he will dress for Sunday's battle with the Hornets.
Edmond Sumner (PG)	Prob Tues	Personal - 28 / 02 / 23	7-2	4-5	+ -
Sumner has been absent from the last four contests due to a personal matter, but it is projected that he will be available against the Rockets on Tuesday.
Ben Simmons (SG)	out for season	Back - 23 / 02 / 23	8-3	5-6	+ -
Simmons is idle with a nerve impingement in his back, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season.