Game 3 of the Western Conference playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns is set for Saturday afternoon at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The overall outcome of this series is hardly in doubt – the Suns would simply do well to win a single game. They certainly did not come close to doing so in Oklahoma City, losing the series opener 119-84 before falling 120-107 on Wednesday.

OKC leads the overall season head-to-head series 5-2, having taken three of five from Phoenix prior to the playoffs. Yes, they had already faced each other five times – the normal four as division rivals in addition to an NBA Cup quarterfinal showdown.

Thunder vs. Suns NBA Betting Odds

Unsurprisingly, the defending NBA champions have been sizeable favourites in every head-to-head matchup this season – between -7.5 and -17.5. They were -10 and -8.5 favourites in their two road trips, so Saturday’s line is in the same range. The total for Saturday’s contest is 214.5 on the NBA odds, coming down from a 216.5 number in each of the first two games despite 227 points being scored Wednesday.

Neither team has been productive against the spread of late. Oklahoma City is 1-3 ATS in its last four overall. Phoenix is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 overall and 1-3 ATS in its last four at home. As for the over/under, the over is 7-2 in the Thunder’s last nine games, 4-2 in the Suns’ last six at home and 7-2 in the last nine head-to-head meetings.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder may be up 2-0, but that is just about where the good news ends. Jalen Williams is hurt – again. Williams (17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.5 apg) played only 33 games during the regular season, missing time with hamstring, wrist and thigh injuries. He suffered another hamstring injury in Game 2 and is expected to miss at least the remainder of this series.

On the bright side, Oklahoma City should not have any trouble with Phoenix – at least it didn’t in the first two contests. Don’t be fooled by the Suns’ cover in their 13-point loss on Wednesday. The margin was 26 points early in the fourth quarter before OKC called off the dogs.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns’ injury report is also far from clean. Mark Williams has not yet played in this series due to a calf problem. Jordan Goodwin sustained a calf injury just five minutes into the series opener and missed Game 2. Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro got starting nods in their places on Wednesday and each contributed seven points.

Especially if the underdogs are undermanned, they will need star guard Devin Booker to heat up. Booker is averaging a modest 22.5 ppg in the series so far and attempted only 14 shots on Wednesday while going 0-for-3 from three-point range. In two regular-season games against OKC, Booker also averaged 22.5 ppg and shot 3-for-11 from downtown.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Thunder vs. Suns Game 3?

Although playing at home should help Phoenix to some extent, don’t forget that this is an Oklahoma City squad that went 30-10 on the road during the regular season. Williams’ absence could be problematic for the top seed in the Western Conference down the road, but it should not be much of a factor in round one. Let’s go with the Thunder to win 116-101.

THUNDER

Away

116

SUNS

Home

101

Score
Predictions

Matchup