Twice the Thunder have struck twice with overtime-forcing four-point plays, but both times Memphis emerged victorious. Now in danger of falling into a 3-1 hole, can OKC finally find a way to slay the grit-n-grind Grizzlies?
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[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1, Game 4 Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – April 19, Memphis 86 at Oklahoma City 100
Game 2 April 21, Memphis 111 at Oklahoma City 15 (OT)
Game 3 – April 24, Oklahoma City 95 at Memphis 98 (OT)
Game 4 – April 26, 9:30PM ET, Oklahoma City (-2.5) at Memphis (+2.5); total 188.5 – view all NBA lines
Game 5 – April 29, Memphis at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary) – May 1, Oklahoma City at Memphis
Game 7 (if necessary) – May 3, Memphis at Oklahoma City
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
For the second game in a row, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback on Thursday night, capped off by a four-point play to force overtime, but once again they fell just short in the extra period.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The All-Star duo had 30 points apiece in the Game 3 loss, but struggled mightily with their shot (they went a combined 19-for-53 (36%) from the field) for the second straight game.
Even with Durant (33 PPG) and Westbrook (27 PPG) putting up big numbers, they haven’t been enough to carry OKC to victory. This is why the Thunder desperately need production from their other players, especially the bench, in Game 4. Key reserves Caron Butler and Reggie Jackson have 27 points combined in three games.
OKC also hasn’t been able to find the stroke from deep. They’ve shot an appalling 18-for-74 (24%) from three so far in the series, which obviously has to get better.
The Thunder are now 4-6 SU/2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies made life difficult for themselves by squandering a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but they still managed to grind out a second straight overtime win in Game 3.
And even while it was in doubt, we should have known it never was, given that the game took place in Memphis. With that win, the Grizzlies have now won fifteen straight home games.
Memphis reserves Beno Udrih and Tony Allen came up big once again for the Grizzlies. After combining for 22 points in Game 2, Udrih and Allen scored 28 points off the bench, thoroughly outplaying their Thunder counterparts.
Those points were especially important with Zach Randolph (16 points, but just 5-for-20 from the field) struggling with his shot. Randolph (21 PPG), Mike Conley (18 PPG) and Marc Gasol (15 PPG) are all having a decent series’, but winning the bench battle has been the key to the Grizzlies being up 2-1 in the series.
The Grizzlies’ trademark defense has also helped tremendously; they’ve kept the Thunder to sub-40% shooting for two straight games and have virtually taken away the three-point shot all series long. Tony Allen in particular has done a remarkable job on Kevin Durant.
Writer’s Prediction
Durant and Westbrook have better shooting nights, while the reinforcements come for the Thunder, who will win and cover in Game 4 to tie the evenly-contested series up.
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