OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers: NBA Thursday Betting Picks
By Ryan Murphy in NBA Basketball
Updated: March 14, 2018 at 9:01 am EDTPublished:
- The Thunder will try to keep rolling as they face the Lakers on Thursday (Feb. 8) at 7:30 p.m. at STAPLES Center.
- Will Russell Westbrook be able to top his sizzling 34-point performance against the Warriors?Â
- Can the Lakers continue their hot streak without Lonzo Ball?
Don’t look now, but the Lakers (22-31, 13-14 home) are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NBA. L.A. has won 11 of its last 15 games despite being without highly touted point guard Lonzo Ball. Their streak has them within striking distance of a playoff spot and has Magic Johnson entertaining the possibility of keeping the Lakers’ young core together rather than pursuing pricey free agents this summer.
The Lakers will be able to show off just how far they’ve come on Thursday night when they host the Thunder (31-24, 12-15 away) for the second time this season. Oklahoma City is fresh off of a convincing 125-105 win against Golden State in which they forced 25 turnovers and had the Warriors on their heels from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer.
OKC will need to stay in attack mode again tonight to notch another win on their California road trip.
Ryan Murphy 2017-18 Season Stats
- ATS record:Â 62-37 (62.6-percent)
- SU record: 354-140 (71-percent)
- O/U record:Â 45-37 (54.8-percent)Â
Team Stats
OFFENSE
| 106.8 | Offensive Rating | 102.0 |
| 106.3 | Points | 106.6 |
| 45.0 | Rebounds | 46.3 |
| 21.2 | Assists | 23.4 |
| 45.5 | Field-Goal Percentage | 45.6 |
| 34.9 | Three-Point Percentage | 32.8 |
| 98.6 | Pace | 103.1 |
| 3.5 | Plus/Minus | -3.4 |
DEFENSE
| 103.6 | Defensive Rating | 105.1 |
| 102.8 | Points | 110.0 |
| 41.1 | Rebounds | 45.2 |
| 7.7 | Steals | 8.1 |
| 4.5 | Blocks | 5.7 |
| 45.6 | Field-Goal Percentage | 45.8 |
| 36.0 | Three-Point Percentage | 34.9 |
| 42.2 | Points In The Paint | 49.0 |
Head-to-Head Results
| Date | Location | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 3 | LA | 133-96 | OKC |
| Jan. 17 | OKC | 114-90 | OKC |
| Feb. 4 | OKC | 108-104 | LAL |
Oklahoma City won its first two games against Los Angeles in dominant fashion this season, blowing out the Lakers 133-96 on January 3rd behind a career-high 24 points from rookie Terrance Ferguson, and downing the Lakers 114-90 behind 27 points from Carmelo Anthony.
The Lakers achieved a measure of revenge on February 4th when they beat the Thunder 108-104. Brook Lopez had 20 points, five boards, and five assists, and L.A. held OKC to just 28-percent shooting from behind the arc.
Notable Injuries and Absences
| Thunder | Lakers |
|---|---|
| Andre Roberson (ruptured patellar tendon): OUT | Lonzo Ball (sore left knee): OUT |
| Carmelo Anthony (sprained ankle): QUESTIONABLE |
Team Trends
| Thunder | Lakers |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City is 12-15 SU on the road | Los Angeles is 13-14 SU at home |
| Oklahoma City is 6-4 SU in its last ten games | Los Angeles is 7-3 SU in its last ten games |
| Oklahoma City is 26-23 SU as a favorite | Los Angeles is 17-27 SU as an underdog |
| Oklahoma City is 16-16 SU in conference games | Los Angeles is 10-21 in conference games |
| Oklahoma City is 19-11 SU after a win | Los Angeles is 11-10 SU after a win |
| Oklahoma City is 23-32 ATS this season (41.8-percent) | Los Angeles is 29-24 ATS this season (54.7-percent) |
| Oklahoma City is 11-15 ATS on the road | Los Angeles is 15-12 ATS at home |
Prediction: Thunder
The Lakers beat the Thunder last Sunday, but you can chalk that victory up to scheduling and injuries. OKC was playing its third game in four nights and was still reeling from the loss of Andre Roberson. The Thunder are far better rested entering Thursday’s re-match and have some momentum on their side after dispatching the defending champion Warriors in Oakland.
Expect big games from Westbrook, who has averaged 23.3 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.3 rebounds against the Lakers over his ten-year career, and L.A. native Paul George, who always puts on a show in front of his family and friends. The two All-Stars should have little trouble racking up points and shutting down Josh Hart and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Straight-Up Picks (Feb. 8)
Thunder vs Lakers is one of six games on tap on Thursday night. Here are our other five straight-up picks.
| Match Up | SU Pick |
|---|---|
| Hawks vs Magic | Hawks |
| Knicks vs Raptors | Raptors |
| Celtics vs Wizards | Celtics |
| Hornets vs Blazers | Blazers |
| Mavs vs Warriors | Warriors |
The moneylines, point spreads, and over/unders for these games will be available soon. You can place a wager by visiting one of these sportsbooks.
Former Sports Writer
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
