Lakers at Thunder: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5, 211)
Oklahoma City doesn’t have the NBA’s best record but the Thunder are certainly the hottest team in the league entering Friday’s home contest against the up-and-down Los Angeles Lakers. Oklahoma City is looking for its seventh consecutive victory and its record is tied for second-best in the league behind the Memphis Grizzlies. Los Angeles hasn’t discovered its groove under recently hired coach Mike D'Antoni and is just 2-5 on the road.
Lakers star Kobe Bryant became the fifth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points when he scored 29 points in Wednesday’s victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Los Angeles was expected to flourish with center Dwight Howard joining Bryant but has just one three-game winning streak all season. Oklahoma City notched a 117-111 road win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, shooting a season-high 60.6 percent while scoring 100 or more points for the 10th straight game. The Thunder are 9-2 at home entering the contest against the team they defeated in the second round of the playoffs last season.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (9-10, 8-11 ATS): Bryant is averaging 34 points over the last three games and is carrying the offense. Interestingly, he is averaging just 20.2 points in Los Angeles’ nine victories while averaging 33 points in 10 defeats. His 28.0 overall average is tops in the NBA and his career point total stands at 30,016, trailing Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time list. “Whenever you hear those kinds of names, you think about the amount of players that have played this game,” said Bryant, “and then to be in that kind of company, it’s always extremely, extremely special.”
ABOUT THE THUNDER (15-4, 13-5-1 ATS): The top offensive team in the league really was on a roll by going 21-of-30 from the field to start the game against the Nets. Oklahoma City averages a league-best 105.7 points and its 49.2 percent field-goal accuracy rate is second behind the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant had 32 points against the Nets and Russell Westbrook added 25. Durant has been engaging his teammates early in the games but still is the top gun in the final quarter. “I always want to be a go-to guy in the fourth,” said Durant, averaging 26.5 points. “That’s what I live for.”
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Favorite is 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Lakers are 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Oklahoma City.
* Lakers are 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Lakers are 9-4 against the Thunder in regular-season games since the former Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City.
2. The Thunder are averaging 112.2 points per game during their six-game winning streak.
3. Lakers F Pau Gasol is expected to miss third straight contest due to tendinitis in both knees.
Friday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
With college football heading to bowl season, basketball is picking up both on the pro and college levels. The NBA card takes center-stage on Friday with 12 contests to wager on, including several playoff rematches from last season. The late ESPN game involves the Thunder and the Lakers as OKC goes for its seventh consecutive victory. The night begins in the City of Brotherly Love with two old division rivals meeting for the second time this season.
Celtics at 76ers
Boston and Philadelphia traded jabs for seven games in May's second round of the postseason before the C's moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Sixers picked up a modicum of revenge last month with a 106-100 triumph at TD Garden as 5½-point underdogs, while easily cashing the 'over' of 179½. Philadelphia heads into Friday's action attempting to snap a two-game skid following Tuesday's disappointing effort against Minnesota.
The Wolves beat the Sixers from start to finish in a 105-88 blowout as three-point road 'dogs. Minnesota led, 34-21 after one quarter, while the Wolves knocked down 13 three-pointers and shot 53% from the floor. The Sixers were held to 88 points for the second straight contest, but Doug Collins' squad is in the midst of an impressive 'over' run by hitting in five of the last six games. Philadelphia has won five of the last six meetings with Boston at the Wells Fargo Center, while three of the five matchups last season finished 'over' the total. However, the highest total in these games was just 177.
The Celtics took care of an unrested Minnesota team by beating the Wolves, 104-94 on Wednesday night. Boston cashed as 5½-point favorites in Rajon Rondo's first game back from a two-game suspension, as the Celtics' point guard dished out 11 assists. Since starting the season 0-5 ATS, the Celtics own a 7-4-2 ATS record the last 13 games, but have covered in consecutive contests just twice in this span.
Warriors at Nets
The last time these two teams hooked up in Oakland, Brooklyn ran out of gas at the end of a three-game road trip in a 102-93 defeat. The Nets were in control early with a 13-point advantage, but tired legs became apparent as the Warriors outscored Brooklyn, 84-63 in the final three quarters. However, Avery Johnson's squad pulled off five consecutive victories after that setback, while falling in back-to-back losses to the Heat and Thunder.
Brooklyn suffered just its second home loss of the season in Tuesday's 117-111 defeat to the defending Western Conference champs as four-point 'dogs. OKC shot nearly 61% from the floor, as Deron Williams' game-high 33 points wasn't enough in Brooklyn's third ATS loss in the last 10 games. The 117 points allowed were by far the most given up by the Nets this season, while the 'over' hit for Brooklyn for just the second time in the previous 10 contests.
Golden State has won four of its last five following Wednesday's victory at Detroit as short road 'dogs. Mark Jackson's team continues a season-long seven-game road swing, as the Warriors have eclipsed the 'over' in four of the previous five away from Oracle Arena, including Tuesday's miracle 'over.' The Warriors and Pistons combined for just 78 first half points, but put up 123 points in the second half to cash the 'over' of 192 ½, as Golden State scored 39 points in the third quarter.
Rockets at Spurs
The battle of the Lone Star State takes place at the AT&T Center in a game which should no doubt bring fireworks to the scoreboard. San Antonio is 9-2 to the 'over' the last 11 games, including Wednesday's 110-99 home triumph of Milwaukee, as the Spurs have eclipsed the 100-point mark nine times in this stretch. The Rockets are taking off at the right time, winning five of six, including Wednesday's impressive effort against the Lakers.
Houston rallied from 17 points down to stun Los Angeles, 107-105 as one-point favorites, in spite of shooting 37% from the floor on 101 shots. The Rockets finished four points shy of an 'over,' snapping a four-game streak to the 'over.' Houston has now won six straight games at the Toyota Center, but the story changes on the highway with five consecutive losses and not covering once in those defeats.
The home team has won nine of the last 10 meetings in this series, including a pair of Spurs' victories in the lockout-shortened season. San Antonio burned Houston backers in the final matchup on February 1 as the Rockets squandered a 19-point advantage as 5½-point 'dogs and still didn't cover in a 99-91 defeat. The Spurs own a solid 5-1 ATS record this season when laying at least nine points.
Lakers at Thunder
Los Angeles concludes a three-game road trip in a major revenge spot at Oklahoma City. The Thunder eliminated the Lakers in five games of the second round last season, as OKC limited L.A. to 90 points or less in three home victories. Oklahoma City is rolling at the moment with six consecutive wins, while covering the number in nine of the last 10 games.
During this hot stretch, Scott Brooks' team has tallied at least 100 points in 10 straight games, as the 'over' is hitting at a 7-3 clip. The Thunder allowed a season-high in points in regulation (111) to the Nets on Tuesday, snapping a four-game streak of holding opponents to less than 100. Five of eight matchups with the Lakers last season finished 'over' the total, but the four meetings in Oklahoma City were split.
The Lakers rebounded from Tuesday's meltdown at Houston to take care of New Orleans the next night for just their second road win of the season. The 'under' is currently on a 4-2 run for Mike D'Antoni's uptempo style, including three straight 'unders' away from Staples Center. Los Angeles owns a dreadful 0-5 ATS record as an underdog this season, while posting a 2-4 ATS mark off an ATS win.
NBA Point Spread and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
There are a dozen games on Friday night’s NBA schedule, highlighted by the struggling Lakers’ visit to Oklahoma City to face the defending Western Conference champion Thunder. In other action, the Golden State Warriors, who have surprised some with their 11-7 start, take on the Nets in Brooklyn, and the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs square off in a Southwest Division game.
The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook as of about 10:45 a.m. PT.
NBA trends:
* The Celtics have covered only twice in their past 10 games following a win. The 76ers have covered their past five Friday games. The 76ers have gone OVER the total in their past five home games. The home team has covered four of the past five meetings between the Celtics and 76ers. Boston is a 1-point favorite in Philadelphia tonight, and the total is 188.5.
* The Nuggets have not covered the spread in their past four games, and their last five games have gone OVER the total. The Pacers have covered their past five games against teams with a losing record. The last four meetings between the Nuggets and Pacers have gone OVER the total. Indiana is -1.5 at home, and the total is 194.5.
* The Warriors have covered five of their last six against Eastern Conference teams. The Nets have covered their past six Friday games. The home team has covered five of the last six meetings between the Warriors and Nets. Brooklyn is a 6.5-point favorite at home tonight.
* The Wizards have covered seven of their past 10 road games. The Hawks have covered only two of their past nine games following a win. The Wizards and Hawks have gone UNDER the total in five of their past six meetings. Atlanta is -9, with a total of 191.5.
* The Pistons have covered their last five games against Central Division teams. The home team has covered seven of the last eight meetings between the Bulls and Pistons. Chicago is laying 2.5 in Detroit.
* The Grizzlies have covered their last five road games, as well as five of their last six meetings with the Hornets in New Orleans. Memphis is a 7.5-point favorite on the road tonight.
* The Cavs have covered four of their past five road games, and six of their last seven trips to Minnesota. The T’Wolves are on a run of covering four of their past five games overall. The UNDER has occurred in seven of the last nine meetings between the Cavs and Wolves. Minnesota is an 8.5-point favorite.
* The Bobcats have covered five of their past seven games coming off a loss, and are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six meetings with the Bucks. Charlotte is getting 7 points in Milwaukee.
* The Rockets have covered their last four games on two-days’ rest, as well as five of their past six games overall. The Spurs have covered their past six Friday games. The underdog has covered in 10 of the last 14 meetings between the Rockets and Spurs. Houston is an 8.5-point dog in San Antonio tonight.
* The favorite has covered in eight of the last 10 meetings between the Raptors and Jazz. Utah is a 7-point favorite tonight.
* The Lakers have covered only twice in their last eight road games. The Thunder have covered their last six games overall. The Lakers and Thunder have gone OVER the total in five of their past six meetings. The Lakers have covered only twice against the Thunder in their last nine meetings. OKC is laying 7.5 at home.
* The Magic have covered their past four road games. The Magic and Kings have gone OVER the total in five of their past seven meetings. The Kings are -2.5, and the total is 196.5.
NBA injuries:
* Bulls guard Richard Hamilton (ankle) is OUT indefinitely.
* Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) has missed Brooklyn’s last three games and is OUT tonight.
* Cavs guard Dion Waiters (ankle) is OUT tonight.
* Hornets center Anthony Davis (ankle) is OUT.
* Bucks guard Mike Dunleavy (knee) is questionable tonight.
* Jazz forward Derrick Favors (foot) is doubtful tonight.
* Lakers forward Pau Gasol (knee) is doubtful tonight.