Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors Prediction, NBA Odds
The reigning champions are starting to heat up again as they prep for a date with the Warriors tonight.
With tip-off set at 10 PM ET, let’s get into the odds and betting trends.
Thunder vs. Warriors NBA Betting Odds
These teams were expected to be among the best in the Western Conference this season. Oklahoma City has shown itself to be arguably the best team in the NBA by a significant margin. Despite suffering a couple of losses at the hands of the Spurs in recent weeks, the Thunder have still been absolutely rolling and carry a 29-5 record heading into this one. The NBA odds have the Thunder as 8.5-point road favourites, along with a posted total of 229.5.
Oklahoma City was an against-the-spread darling last year, but the Thunder are just 18-16 against the number this season, as the market has caught up with just how good this team is. On the other side, the Warriors are just 16-18 against the spread, and they have struggled with injuries and inconsistent play from their supporting cast.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The defending champions have certainly looked the part to this point, and that shouldn’t be a surprise given that Oklahoma City was expected to win at least 65 games coming into the season. After winning 20 of their first 21 games to start the campaign, the Thunder are “only” 9-4 over their last 13 games.
However, Oklahoma City has won three consecutive games since suffering a loss to the Spurs on Christmas Day, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company look extremely motivated after those minor setbacks. Mark Daigneault’s group has maintained their excellent defence and competitive edge, even after winning a title, which is part of what makes this team a machine. As long as the Thunder put forth a solid team effort in this one, their floor is high enough that they should win this game comfortably on the road.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have been up-and-down all season long, but Golden State comes into this game with a bit of momentum following a couple of strong recent performances in wins over the Nets and Hornets. However, this game presents a much more difficult challenge for Steph Curry and a Golden State team that has struggled when stepping up in class this season.
Curry is dealing with an ankle sprain heading into this game, and the Golden State offence falls off a cliff without the services of the greatest shooter ever in the backcourt. If Curry is unable to play, he’ll be sorely missed against an Oklahoma City defence that is the best unit in basketball at the moment. Even at home, it could be a slog for the Warriors on offense in this one.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Thunder vs. Warriors?
Even though the Warriors are trending in the right direction, it’s hard to see this team compete with the best defence in basketball if Curry isn’t at his best, or is unable to suit up. Provided that the Thunder play with focus and intention, Oklahoma City should win by a convincing margin. The Thunder take this one 120-106.
OKC
GS