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The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Hollywood to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night at the Staples Center.
The Thunder are coming off a 120-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last February 6th in OKC. Meanwhile, the Lakers return home after a hard-earned 135-129 double overtime win over the Detroit Pistons, also on Saturday. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season. The Lakers mauled the Thunder 128-99 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-12 on the season and they are currently in 4th place in the Northwest Division team standings and 13th overall in the Western Conference. The Thunder head to Los Angeles after getting a 1-1 split against the Minnesota Timberwolves at their Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a fantastic season for OKC. SGA leads the team in scoring and passing at 22.2 points and 6.3 assists per game. Veteran big man Al Horford is the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while Hamidou Diallo is putting up 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. George Hill, Lugen Dortz, and Darius Bazley are also scoring in twin-digits but Hill is out for four weeks with a thumb injury.
OKC ranks 25th in the league in scoring at 107.5 points per game this season. They are 15th in rebounding at 44.1 boards grabbed per contest and are 25th in passing at 22.6 dimes per contest. The Thunder have the league’s 8th worst scoring defense at 113.9 points per game allowed.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are 18-6 on the season. The defending champions are currently on top of the Pacific Division and have the second-best record in the Western Conference behind the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles went 5-2 on their recent road trip and are coming off back to back home wins over the Nuggets and Pistons.
LeBron James is having an MVP start to the season at 25.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this season. Anthony Davis is putting up 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. The newly acquired Dennis Schroder is averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 assists per game while Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma are also scoring in double figures.
Los Angeles ranks 13th in the league in scoring at 112.8 points per game and they have the NBA’s second-best scoring defense at 104.6 points per game allowed. The Lakers are 8th off the glass at 45.3 boards grabbed per contest and are 14th in passing at 25.0 assists per game this season.
Who Wins?
The Thunder are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played against the Lakers. OKC is 2-3 SU in their last five games played on the road, 5-10 SU in their last 15 games played against the Western Conference, and 1-5 SU in their last six games against the Pacific Division. The Lakers are 16-4 SU in their last 20 games played. Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last five games played at home, 11-2 SU in their last 13 games played against the Northwest division. Head to head, the Lakers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Thunder. Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last five games played against the Thunder.
Please Note
Los Angeles is 11-4 against their Western Conference rivals and won the first meeting between these two teams at 128-99. The Lakers are shooting 48.6% from the field and have been limiting their opponents to 104.9 points per game on 46.4% field goal shooting.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are shooting 46.0% from the field and are allowing their opponents to shoot 46.2% from the floor while scoring 116.2 points per game. The Thunder are 4-3 SU in their last seven games played. OKC is just 5-9 SU in 14 games played against the Western Conference.
The Lakers are coming off a close call against the Pistons. LeBron James is having an MVP start to the season while Dennis Schroder continues to impress for the defending champions. With Anthony Davis slowly regaining his old form back, the Lakers have won four straight games. Look for the champs to win a 5th straight against an overmatched Thunder team.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
Other Bets To Make
The Thunder are 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. OKC is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games played on the road. The Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in their last six games played against the Western Conference. Head to head, OKC is 4-2 ATS in their last six games played against the Lakers. The Thunder are also 4-1 ATS in their last five games played against the Lakers at Staples Center.
Thunder
+12 (-110)
Lakers
-12 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 02/08/2021
The Thunder have covered the spread well on the road and they have covered the spread well against the Lakers. Los Angeles is winning games but four out of their last five wins have been by single digits. The Lakers are a very talented offensive team but defense is what makes them champions. They don’t score tons of points as well and are in the middle of the pack in scoring. No doubt Los Angeles wins but OKC is scrappy and should cover the spread.
Prediction: Thunder +12
The over is 5-4-1 in OKC’s last 10 games played. The total has gone over in six out of the last eight games played by the Thunder on Monday. The under is 5-1 in the last six games played by the Lakers. Los Angeles has seen the total go over in six out of their last 10 home games. The total has gone under in five of the Lakers’ last six February games. Head to head, the total has gone over in four out of the last five games played between these two teams.
Over
217 (-110)
Under
217 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 02/08/2021
The Thunder are ranked 25th in the league in scoring at 107.5 points per game this season. That’s going to be a problem against the Lakers who are 2nd in the league in scoring defense. OKC has scored 106 or fewer points in seven out of their last 10 games played. Los Angeles could decide to rest one of their stars against a struggling opponent. The under is 5-1 in OKC’s last six games against teams with a winning record and the under is also 6-0 in the Lakers’ last six games after failing to cover the spread in their previous game.
Prediction: Under 217
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