OKC continues their short road trip to start the season as they get ready to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Cavs pulled off a 114-113 victory on Wednesday in Brooklyn over the Nets, but they are dealing with some key injuries that leave a little shorthanded in the backcourt as Darius Garland is questionable to play with a strained hamstring. The key matchup to watch will feature two of the league’s star guards as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces off with Donovan Mitchell.
The Cavs are one of those fringe teams. They’re on the brink of being pretty good, but they could also swing into mediocrity if they’re not careful. They have the star talent of Donovan Mitchell and plenty of quality pieces, but they are dealing with some injuries. Jarrett Allen is out with a bone bruise, and Darius Garland is questionable with a strained hamstring. OKC is mostly healthy, and with the way they finished strong on Wednesday, I’m taking the Thunder to cover (and win) in Cleveland.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC an Underdog on the Road (Again) in Cleveland
If you make this selection based solely on the trends (which I often do) then OKC is the clear choice here. Cleveland has only been favored four times this season and just once as a road favorite. The Cavs are 1-3 in those games and 0-1 as the road favorite. When facing an opponent as a 2-5 point underdog the Thunder are 8-5 against the spread. OKC is also 7-4 against the spread when facing teams that have won less than 45% of its games. Finally, the Thunder are 1-0 against the spread this season when playing Cleveland.
View More Thunder Against The Spread | How Can You Not Pick The Cavs?
The Oklahoma City Thunder is riding a season-long 4-game losing streak, and no one should be surprised. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed the last 8 games, Luguentz Dort has been out for the last 6, and Darius Bazley hasn’t played since March 4th. Al Horford won’t play another minute this season, and likely won’t ever again for the Thunder. The roster is pretty thin right now, especially lacking in experience.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #52: Cavs
This is a unique position for Oklahoma City tonight. They’ve not been a road favorite this season so we really don’t have any trends to go on. In fact, this is only the second time they’ve even been a favorite at all this year.
View More Thunder Against The Spread | OKC Is In Unfamiliar Territory As Road Favorite
The Oklahoma City Thunder is on 3-game losing streak after dropping a 980-85 decision to the Bucks on Friday night, and tonight’s matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers might be their best chance to get a win for a while. The Cavs are just 10-20 on the season—14th in the Eastern Conference standings—but the Thunder is just a slight favorite.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #30 Preview: Cavs
Tonight, the Thunder hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers (13-38), who are struggling lately, to say the least. Winners of just 1 game of their last 12, the Cavs have very little direction. Trade rumors are swirling around the organization, so who knows what their roster could look like tonight.
View More OKC Thunder | Game #51 Preview: Cavaliers
The Oklahoma Sooners are stepping out of conference play on Saturday to host Vanderbilt in the Big 12/S.E.C. Challenge. The Commodores (9-9) limp into Norman…
View More Oklahoma Basketball Opponent Q&A | Vanderbilt Commodores