The Oklahoma City Thunder holds a 3-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns ahead of Game 4 on Monday night, an opportunity for the Thunder to sweep its first-round opponent and get some rest ahead of the second round. OKC is a big favorite, despite missing Jalen Williams with a strained hamstring. The Suns will almost certainly put up a fight, but the Thunder feels inevitable at this point.
This feels like a good opportunity for a Thunder blowout. I don’t expect a close win for OKC, and while a Phoenix upset is possible, it’s not exactly probable. The Thunder has done a great job at staying focused and adjusting when necessary, and I don’t think even the antics from Dillon Brooks can get the Suns a win. With an opportunity to close out the series, I think OKC gets the job done via another impressive performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, coupled with the first good three-point shooting night of the series for the Thunder.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Looks to Close Out Suns in Phoenix As Double-Digit Favorite
The Oklahoma City Thunder takes on the Suns in Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon in a crucial series-defining matchup. The Suns haven’t even really come close in the first two games, but they did make a solid push in the fourth quarter of Game 2 to at least get the Thunder’s attention. Now that the series is in Phoenix, OKC should expect a hostile crowd fueled by frustration that is being spearheaded by Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Round 1, Game 3 Preview: Phoenix Suns
This line feels almost perfect for this game. OKC is without Jalen Williams, and Phoenix gets the home crowd, but the Thunder is still the better team in this match-up, and it isn’t even close. I could see this being a double-digit win, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Suns covered late. Either way, I don’t see OKC losing. I do expect a chippy game, and I’m sure Phoenix will try to push the limit on the level of physicality, but a better shooting night from the Thunder than in Games 1 and 2 should do the trick, so I’m taking OKC to cover.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Takes on Suns in Phoenix for Game 3 as Near Double-Digit Favorite
The Oklahoma City Thunder utterly dominated the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Thunder’s defense was suffocating, and even though OKC didn’t shoot all that well, the defense converted turnovers into points. In the end, the starters rested for most, if not all, of the fourth quarter, and now the teams meet again tonight for Game 2.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Round 1, Game 2 Preview: Phoenix Suns
After blowing out the Suns in Game 1, the Thunder enters Game 2 as an even bigger favorite. 17.5 points is tied for the biggest spread in an NBA Playoff game ever, and while OKC could definitely hit this, I still expect a better game from Phoenix. The Thunder shouldn’t struggle to win the game in the end, but a late cover by the Suns feels likely, so I’m taking Phoenix to cover.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored Heavily Over Suns Yet Again for Game 2
The Oklahoma City Thunder opens up the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday afternoons. OKC is heavily favored to win the series, and a sweep seems more likely than not. Still, Phoenix should not be underestimated.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Round 1, Game 1 Preview: Phoenix Suns
In a battle of “who’s even available?”, OKC looks pretty good on paper. The Suns have a handful of starters questionable, but Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks are out, removing their best overall player and their best defender. OKC is resting the same guys as Friday night against the Denver Nuggets, and even though that group didn’t look great against a limited Nuggets squad, I see them performing better at home. I’m taking the Thunder to cover in the regular season finale, even though it doesn’t count for much.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored Against Phoenix in Regular Season Finale
Jalen Williams came alive in the fourth quarter on Monday against the Lakers to fuel the Thunder to a solid win, and I think he picks up tonight where he left off. With SGA still out, Williams will need to shoulder more of the offensive load, but he has help coming from Chet Holmgren, who has played well against the Suns this season (21.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG on 67.6% FG and 57.1% 3P in 3 meetings). Isaiah Hartenstein has yet to play against the Suns this season, so he will add another dynamic as he continues to increase his minutes after returning from injury. Taking all of this into account, plus the fact that the Suns just played last night, I’m taking OKC to cover.
View More Thunder Against the Spread | OKC Favored Ahead of Defensive Matchup in Phoenix
The Oklahoma City Thunder heads into Phoenix on Sunday night riding a four-game win streak after losing four of their previous six. The Thunder’s defense is back to exhausting opponents, and the offense has been firing on all cylinders behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency. Still, it’s a long season, and we’re not even quite to the halfway mark.
View More Oklahoma City Thunder | Game #36 Preview: Phoenix Suns