The Los Angeles Lakers are about to end yet another disappointing season. Although they will soon hit an early vacation, that doesn’t mean they will just lay their weapons down and let opponents run through them. That’s certainly not the case lately, as the Lakers are on a roll. As for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are currently groping for form, and they will look to turn things around this Tuesday at home against the Lake Show. The Thunder are +4,000 to win the NBA title this year.
Not that it would matter much to their overall resume this season, but at least the Lakers are giving their frustrated fans a few reasons to feel good of late, as Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in its last five games. That includes back-to-back wins in their last two games, beating the Charlotte Hornets at home on Mar. 29, 129-115, and the New Orleans Pelicans on the road, 130-102. The Lakers’ offense is soaring right now. They have averaged 118.8 points per game on 48.2 percent shooting from the field over their last five games. They shot well against the Pelicans despite no longer having LeBron James, who will be sitting out the rest of the season, making 47.5 percent of their shots from the floor and draining 15 3-pointers. The Lakers also had success without James when they won in Oklahoma City back in February, 138-128. Kyle Kuzma led the team with 32 points, but his status this Tuesday remains unclear due to a foot issue. If he’ll sit out the Thunder game, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lance Stephenson and Moritz Wagner will all have to step up.
The Lakers are 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last five games.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder (44-33)
The Thunder are hoping that April won’t be as ugly as March was. Russell Westbrook and company are limping into the new month after going just 6-10 SU in March. They are also 1-3 SU over their last three games and have lost their last two assignments (both at home) to the Denver Nuggets (115-105) and to the Dallas Mavericks (106-103) last Friday and Sunday, respectively. The loss to the Mavs wasted another fantastic effort from Westbrook, who collected yet another triple-double, posting 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in 38 minutes. Paul George, meanwhile, had 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers. George was in peak form in the first meeting with the Lakers this season, scoring 37 points on 15-for-29 shooting from the field with four steals in a 107-100 win at STAPLES Center in January. Given the Lakers’ terrific form recently on offense, the Thunder will have to turn it up on defense, especially in the paint, where LA outscored them, 56-24, in the February meeting. On the season, the Thunder are 15th in the league with 110.9 points allowed per game.
The Thunder are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games against the Lakers.
