“Mr. Unreliable” Kevin Durant quickly silenced his critics with a sensational performance on the road in Game 6. With Durant back to playing like the MVP, will the Thunder continue their quest for the title by finally slaying the wounded Grizzlies in Game 7 at home?
When we compiled experts predictions for the NBA playoffs’ first round, several experts predicted a tight series that could go to six or seven, and here we are. Open a betting account at Top Bet and then read on for everything you need to know bet on this monumental game.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1, Game 7 Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – April 19, Memphis 86 at Oklahoma City 100
[sc:NBA240banner ]Game 2 April 21, Memphis 111 at Oklahoma City 105 (OT)
Game 3 – April 24, Oklahoma City 95 at Memphis 98 (OT)
Game 4 – April 26, Oklahoma City 92 at Memphis 89 (OT)
Game 5 – April 29, Memphis 100 at Oklahoma City 99 (OT)
Game 6 – May 1, Oklahoma City 104 Memphis 84
Game 7 – May 3, 8:00 PM ET – Memphis at Oklahoma City – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The blueprint for the Grizzlies’ three series wins had been to take leads into halftime before grinding away in the second half to protect said leads. That didn’t happen in Game 6, as the Grizzlies got behind by double-digits early and never recovered.
Unlike the Thunder, the Grizzlies simply don’t have the firepower to come back from big deficits. That offense has been further compromised after third-leading scorer Mike Conley (15 PPG) injured his hamstring in Game 6. With Conley’s effectiveness surely limited, Beno Udrih could play heavy minutes. Udrih scored 26 total points in Games 2-3, but has scored just 14 points in three games since.
Despite Memphis’ good road record (4-1 SU/3-1-1 ATS in their last five road games) of late, Conley’s injury makes Game 7 in OKC an even bigger challenge. But don’t expect the Grizzlies to go down easily; they’ll still play their trademark defense, dump it off to Zach Randolph (18 PPG) and Marc Gasol (16 PPG) and grit ‘n’ grind ‘til the bitter end.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder team that came out all guns blazing in Game 6 was the one people expected to see in the playoffs, but it wasn’t the starting line-up people were expecting. Scott Brooks opted to start Caron Butler in place of Thabo Sefolosha to jumpstart a struggling offense, and it paid dividends.
Butler (seven points in Game 6) didn’t do much, but he gave the Grizzlies defense that had been keying on Kevin Durant another person to actually guard. With a little less attention and a little more motivation, Durant (36 points, 10 rebounds) was aggressive from the start. He had 14 points in the first quarter and his 15 free throw attempts were his most in the series.
With Durant taking charge, Westbrook (25 points, 9 rebounds in Game 6) can play more a controlled game; he went 9-for-21 (43%) from the field, his best shooting percentage from the field in the series.
Reggie Jackson (18 PPG in his last three games) has also gotten into the series, and should provide that much needed scoring punch from the bench. The over is 4-1 in the Thunder’s last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
With the rediscovery of Durant’s mojo and the injury to Conley, all signs point to a Thunder win in Game 7.
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