As poorly as OKC played at times to end the season, they kicked it into another gear on Wednesday against the Pelicans. Minnesota is favored for a reason…for several reasons, actually, but the Thunder is young and perhaps too naive to believe the fact that they really shouldn’t even be in this game, so I fully expect them to be able to keep this one close if not outright pull out a win.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Expect OKC to Cover on the Road Yet Again
The Oklahoma City Thunder continues to do the unthinkable as they now are just one win away from earning a spot in the NBA Playoffs. It wasn’t too long ago before the Thunder was in the early stages of their third straight season of tanking, but it didn’t take long for everyone to see just what this team was made of. Fast forward to present day, and OKC is fresh off a 123-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in their first play-in game.
View More OKC Thunder | Play-In Game #2 Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing on the road is difficult any night of the year, but this is particularly the case in the playoffs. While the Play-in Tournament isn’t technically the playoffs, the stakes are still extremely high, and maybe even more so in this one as it is win or go home for both teams. OKC’s starters are coming off 5 whole days of rest, and that means a lot for guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been particularly efficient coming off a lot of rest. As a result, I expect the Thunder to not just cover the spread but win the game as well. Either way, it’s going to be a close one to the final buzzer.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Season Trends Say OKC Covers in NOLA
The regular season is all wrapped up, and the Oklahoma City Thunder far surpassed preseason expectations as they managed to win 40 games and sneak their way into the Play-In Tournament. OKC is as healthy as they can be at this point in the season as they travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in the 9/10 game.
View More OKC Thunder | Play-In Game #1 Preview: New Orleans Pelicans
Neither of these teams really cares about the outcome of this game. It appears like the Thunder would actually like to lose it just because of the slight boost in draft odds. Still, the game has to be played, and based on who is active for it, the Thunder appears to have a slight edge, perhaps only because the game is being played in front of the home crowd. With that in mind, I’m taking OKC to win a close one.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Pick OKC to Win Battle of B Teams
The Oklahoma City Thunder has clinched the final play-in spot and will play on Wednesday night against an opponent to be determined after all the games are played today and the final seedings are settled. Before that can happen, however, the Thunder must wrap up the regular season with an Easter Sunday matinee at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #82 Preview: Memphis Grizzlies
Just a few weeks ago, OKC to cover the spread was one of the best bets in all of sports. Since then, OKC has failed to cover in 8 consecutive games. Tonight, they face a Utah Jazz squad that appears to be full given to the tank as nearly their entire regular starting lineup is out due to a variety of injuries. Because of that, and because of the important nature of the game for the Thunder, I’m expecting OKC to do everything they can to put this game away from the tip-off. I anticipate a double-digit victory, and they could definitely use it right now.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | Take OKC to Cover Against Injured Jazz
Tonight, the Thunder takes on the Jazz for the final road game of the season. Because Utah is all but eliminated from play-in contention, they appear to be giving in full to tanking as almost their entire regular starting lineup is sitting out due to a variety of injuries. With that in mind, OKC SHOULD be able to pick up the win and head home to take on Memphis on Sunday. Still, based on how up and down the Thunder has played the last couple of weeks, Thunder fans shouldn’t count their eggs before they hatch.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #81 Preview: Utah Jazz
OKC’s odds of clinching the 10th seed for the play-in spot are still pretty good. Dallas continues to lose, and it’s a good thing, too, because OKC can’t seem to beat even the teams they should be beating. With that in mind, I’m hesitant to think the Thunder even has a chance tonight, but I think they’re due for a cover, if not an outright win. The game is really going to come down to OKC playing solid defense, which they haven’t done a lot of lately until the second half against the Suns on Sunday. If the Thunder can at least slow down the Warriors, I like their chances at covering the spread.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC A Near Double-Digit Dog at Golden State
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their struggle down the final stretch of the season as they fell to the Phoenix Suns 128-118 at home on Sunday evening. The Thunder showed promising signs of being able to compete with the league’s best, but with just a few games left, OKC has yet to clinch a play-in spot. They could do that tonight as they head out on the road to take on the Golden State Warriors.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #80 Preview: Golden State Warriors