Friday night in the NBA we will see the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to take on the Utah Jazz. The game is scheduled for a 10:30 pm tipoff and will be televised live on ESPN. Currently Oklahoma City is favored by 1 point with the total being set at 201 for this game. The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to wrap up a five-game road trip with their third consecutive win at EnergySolutions Arena on Friday night.
Free Analysis: The Thunder are 2-2 entering the finale of their current five-game trip, despite having allowed at least 106 points in all four of those contests. They had an eight-point lead with 4:48 remaining Thursday against Sacramento but scored just six points from there en route to a 106-101 defeat. "We had a good lead and in the last five or six minutes we've been good all season," coach Scott Brooks said. "But the turnovers hit us (Thursday). We played with good effort, but we didn't play with a controlled effort." Russell Westbrook, who was named a reserve on the West All-Star team earlier Thursday, topped 30 points for the second straight game with 33. Kevin Durant added 27 and Serge Ibaka tied a career high with 10 blocks, but Oklahoma City let the Kings take 22 more shots, a season-high 99. The Thunder (101.2 ppg on 47.65 shooting) and are led by Kevin Durant, who leads the team in scoring (27.3 ppg) rebounding (8.3 rpg) and shooting (50.3), while Russell Westbrook has added 22.3 ppg and James Harden (16.8 ppg) rounds out the DD scorers on this team. Let's also note that Durant has averaged 31.3 points over his last seven games against Utah, highlighted by a 45-point effort in a 140-139 overtime loss on the road April 6, 2010, while Westbrook has been similarly effective in the last two meetings between the clubs, averaging 32.0 points on 65.6 percent shooting. Defensively the Thunder have allowed 96.8 ppg (21st), but on just 42.6% shooting (6th). The have really struggled at that end of late as they have allowed 109 ppg in their last 4 games. The Jazz, meanwhile, lost for the fourth time in five games on Tuesday in Indiana, falling 104-99 to the Pacers. Paul Millsap had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in that one and Al Jefferson added 16 points for the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight game away from EnergySolutions Arena and fell to 2-7 on the road. Home has been a different story for this team as they are 11-4 at EnergySolutions arena and have outscored those opponents by 6.1 ppg. Just like the Thunder, the Jazz have 3 players averaging in double figures, but none have averaged above 20 ppg. Al Jefferson leads the way with 18.5 ppg, followed by Paul Milsap (16.5 ppg) and C.J. Milaes (10.1 ppg). Milsap is not only 2nd on the team in scoring, but he does lead them in rebounding (9.7 rpg), shooting (52.3 %) and steals (1.4 spg). This guy does it all, plus he has averaged 25.5 points on 64.1 percent shooting in his last four games against the Thunder.Overall the Jazz are 10th in scoring (97 ppg) and 23rd in points allowed (97.2 ppg). The Jazz haven't made enough plays against the Thunder in recent meetings, as they've lost the last three games in the series and six of eight. Oklahoma City has averaged 114.0 points during its win streak against Utah - nearly 12 points more than the Jazz have scored per game.
Free Pick: On the surface it would look like a great over play as the Thunder's first 4 games on this trip have averaged 215.8 ppg, while Utah's last 5 games have averaged 201 ppg, but as Lee Corso always says "Not so fast my friend". This is the Thunder's 4th game in 5 days and their 2 time playing in BB games over that stretch and that has to have an effect on this team, especially when it comes to shooting the ball. Tired legs wont help them score as much or play the uptempo game they are used to. . What also won't help them score as much is the fact that Utah has allowed just 92.9 ppg at home on the year. Utah has averaged 99 ppg at home this year, but just 97.8 ppg in their last 5 games overall and while they will be playing a bad team< i don't expect them to hit more thn 95 in this one as the pace of the game should be slowed down, limiting the scoring chances of both teams. Judging by the numbers in the first part of this write up the OU line should be higher, but it stands at just 201. Hmmmm. Seems like someone wants us to take the Over but Ill head the other way and expect a game in the low 190's.
Free Picks: Thunder at Jazz - Best Bet from Marco DAngelo
http://PregameVideos.com - Tough scheduling spot for Thunder and Total will be inflated due to recent games plus other factors NBA bettors need to know about Thunder at Jazz (Friday, February 10, 2012) from Pregame.com - Including a best bet from Marco D'Angelo and analysis from Stephen Nover.