The top seeded Thunder will attempt to avoid stepping to the brink of postseason extinction tonight as they square off against the Grizzlies in Memphis. This evening’s Game 4 collision at the FedEX Forum is scheduled to get underway at 9:30pm ET on TNT. The latest 2013 NBA Playoff Picks have the Grizzlies listed as a -4.5 against the spread home favorite and the Over/Under set at 184.5 points. Oklahoma City is drawing +170 moneyline odds ($100 wins $170) to even the series at two games apiece.

 

Oklahoma City was viewed as the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals when the 2013 NBA Playoffs got underway, but a season ending injury to Russell Westbrook in the second game of their opening round series with the Rockets has cast serious doubts on its championship aspirations.

 

The Thunder managed to get past Houston in six games, but the Grizzlies are proving more difficult to overcome. Memphis carries a 2-1 series lead into tonight’s game and its defense has held the usually high flying Thunder to an average of 89 points per game.

 

Oklahoma City has floundered on offense without Westbrook, leaving Kevin Durant to shoulder too much of the scoring load. Durant has been exceptional throughout the playoffs and this series, but no one else has stepped up consistently enough to put a scare in the Grizzlies.

 

Memphis is no offensive powerhouse either, and its point totals in this series reflect that (91, 99, 87); however, the Grizzlies defense more than makes up for what they lack on offense. Unless someone can lend Durant a huge helping hand tonight, that should prove true, once again.

 

Notable Trends: The Grizzlies are 6-1 both straight up and against the spread in their last seven games as a home favorite with a spread between 4 and 7.5 and total between 180 and 185 points.

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder +4.5 (-110), Over 184.5 (-110), +170 (Moneyline)

 

Memphis Grizzlies -4.5 (-110), Under 184.5 (-110), -200 (Moneyline)

 

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