Pro Hoops on Thursday and we will see the Oklahoma City Thunder travel west to take on the Golden State Warriors. The game is scheduled for a 10:30 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on TNT. Currently the Odds for the game have Oklahoma City favored by 4 points while the total sits at 203.5.
Analysis: With the Spurs losing at Denver on Wednesday, both San Antonio and Oklahoma City are tied atop the West with 57-21 records. The Thunder have reached this point with a 7-2 SU record (6-3 ATS) in their past nine games. They started a three-game road trip on Tuesday with a 10-point victory at Utah. Oklahoma City could be the most complete team in the NBA, scoring 105.8 PPG (2nd in NBA) and allowing teams to shoot just 42.5% FG (also 2nd in league). During its 7-2 SU surge, the Thunder are scoring 101.3 PPG on 48% FG (40% threes) while limiting opponents to 91.1 PPG on 40% FG (33% threes). Not only do the Thunder shoot a very high percentage from the field (48.1% FG, 3rd in NBA), but they also make 38.1% threes (3rd in league). This team is tough to move around down low, consistently battling on the glass with a +3.0 RPG margin (5th in NBA) and blocking a league-best 7.7 shots per game. SF Kevin Durant (28.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.5 APG) has been on fire for the past month, starting a streak of 16 straight 20-point games on March 10. During this stretch, he's posted 27.3 PPG on 51% FG, 38% threes and 91% free throws, while adding 8.3 RPG and 3.9 APG. PG Russell Westbrook (23.4 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG) also has a 20-point streak going, surpassing that mark in each of his past five games, averaging 27.2 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 7.2 APG during this stretch. Oklahoma City has taken five of the previous six in the series but lost at Golden State 104-99 on Jan. 23.
The Warriors are also playing great basketball, winning eight of their past 11 games SU (7-4 ATS) including a playoff-clinching, 105-89 drubbing of Minnesota on Tuesday night. Golden State generates much of its 100.9 PPG of offense (9th in NBA) from its stellar three-point shooting (40.2%), which is the best in the league. The defense allows 99.9 PPG (19th in NBA), but holds teams to extremely low shooting percentages of 43.7% FG (3rd in NBA) and 34.2% threes (5th in league). This is also a tough rebounding team with 44.8 total RPG (2nd in NBA) and a +2.0 RPG margin (9th in NBA). PF David Lee (18.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG) is the biggest reason for these strong rebounding numbers, as he leads the NBA with 53 double-doubles, seven more than any other player, including four in a row. He's also averaged a double-double against the Thunder this season with 18.8 PPG and 11.0 RPG. PG Stephen Curry (22.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.0 RPG) has pumped in 22.3 PPG and 8.0 APG in the season series and is also red-hot in his past five games, scoring 24.6 PPG on 47% FG (42% threes) with 9.0 APG. SG Klay Thompson (16.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG) has been even hotter in his past three contests, pouring in 25.0 PPG on 54% FG and 11-of-17 threes (65%). He has a solid 14.0 PPG on 46% shooting versus the Thunder this season.
Pick: I think this game has been bet down enough to take the over here. both teams play very good defense, but both teams play uptempo and both shoot the 3 ball very well and that should be enough to gut us the Over in this one.
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NBA Free Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors
What pro basketball bettors need to know about Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors on Thursday (4/11/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Steve Fezzik, with Vegas Runner and Bryan Leonard.