The Portland Trail Blazers (7-9) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (16-1) Sunday. Tip-off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Trail Blazers vs. Thunder odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Trail Blazers lead 1-0
Portland came away with a 127-123 upset of the Golden State Warriors Friday, covering as a 10.5-point road underdog as the Over (237.5) cashed. The Trail Blazers were without G Jrue Holiday and G Shaedon Sharpe in the win. F Deni Avdija (26 points, 13 assists) and C Donovan Clingan (22 points, 10 rebounds) finished with double-doubles, but it was rookie G Caleb Love and his 26 bench points that powered the Blazers.
Oklahoma City extended its win streak to 8 with a 144-112 blowout of the Utah Jazz Friday as a 17-point road favorite with the Over (233.5) hitting. The Thunder shot over 61% from deep and from the field, while forcing 28 Jazz turnovers. G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points on just 14 shots while being able to sit for yet another fourth quarter.
The Blazers handed OKC its only loss of the season in a 121-119 contest in Portland Nov. 5. The Trail Blazers rallied from a 22-point deficit in the first half, sparked by C Duop Reath, who hit three 3’s in the second quarter to give the Blazers momentum. Reath finished with 12 points, going 4-for-5 from deep.
Trail Blazers at Thunder odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:47 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Trail Blazers +850 (bet $100 to win $850) | Thunder -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Trail Blazers +15.5 (-105) | Thunder -15.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 234.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)Trail Blazers at Thunder key injuries
Trail Blazers
C Donovan Clingan (ankle) questionableG Scoot Henderson (hamstring) outG Jrue Holiday (calf) outG Damian Lillard (Achilles) outG Shaedon Sharpe (calf) outC Robert Williams III (knee) questionable
Thunder
G/F Aaron Wiggins (thigh) outF Jalen Williams (wrist) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Trail Blazers at Thunder picks and predictionsPrediction
Thunder 117, Trail Blazers 106
PASS.
The Thunder (-1600) are the much better team, and with Portland (+850) being OKC’s only loss so far this season, the Thunder will have plenty of reason to avenge the defeat. However, no team favored so heavily is worth the risk of betting on, so pass and bet the spread and/or total instead.
BET TRAIL BLAZERS +15.5 (-105).
The Thunder have struggled to cover as heavy favorites recently, going just 1-3 ATS in their last 4 games when favored by 15 or more points. On the other side, the Blazers have covered the spread in back-to-back games and are 3-1 ATS in their last 4 matchups against the Thunder.
Portland is still a good team that can turn you over and will run in transition better than almost anyone in the league, so the Blazers covering here is nearly a lock.
UNDER 234.5 (-105).
Given the fact OKC lost when these teams last played, look for the Thunder to step up defensively and not allow for the Blazers to find any offensive success in the half-court game. Portland won’t have that same ability on the other end, but the Blazers will be able to force turnovers and deflections at a steady enough rate to slow this OKC offense down, leaving room for the Under to cash.
The Under is 2-1-1 in the last 4 Portland-OKC matchups and is 3-2 in OKC’s last 5 overall.
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