The San Antonio Spurs have won 19 straight games, and up next on their schedule are the Oklahoma City Thunder, in what could be a preview of this year’s Western Conference Finals. With pride on the line, which club will take the last game of the season series?
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014, 8:00PM EST
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Line: San Antonio Spurs (+3.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-3.5); total 208.5 – view these lines
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
[sc:NBA240banner ]Dating back to February 26, San Antonio has averaged 111.2 PPG, the best clip in the NBA during that span. The Spurs have also averaged 28.5 APG, and have been limiting their opponents to 94.4 PPG on 42.4% shooting.
San Antonio’s success has more than you think to do with Kawhi Leonard (12.4PPG, 6.3RPG, 1.9APG), who has helped San Antonio go unbeaten since his return from a fractured hand. In the 60 games that Leonard has played this season, the Spurs are 51-9, and have a defensive rating of 97.0 when he’s on the court, which is just slightly below the top rank (Indiana: 95.9).
Coach Gregg Popovich likes to rest Tim Duncan on the second game of back-to-backs, so the aging star may sit this one out. The Spurs have played 17 contests on no rest this season, and Duncan has missed six of those, with San Antonio going 4-2 SU. Tomorrow’s match vs. Oklahoma City is a back-to-back for the Spurs, following Wednesday’s victory over Golden State, 111-90.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
Ever since the 2012 Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City has dominated San Antonio in OKC, going undefeated in six games. Moreover, the Thunder are the fourth best home club in the NBA this year, with a 31-7 record.
Scott Brook’s team dominated Popovich and company in their first three matchups this season – winning by an average of 8.3 points – thanks to Kevin Durant and Reggie Jackson, who are averaging a combined 49.4 PPG against the Spurs.
However, tomorrow’s game will be the first time the teams duel without the injured Thabo Sefalosha (6.7 PPG, 34% from three). Though the Swiss player doesn’t put up big statistics, Oklahoma City improves on defense when he plays. Prior to Sefalosha’s injury on March 2, OKC gave up only 98.6 PPG to opponents, but that number has rocketed to 102.9 since he got sidelined. Meanwhile, the Thunder are only 6-6-1 ATS since then.
Prediction
The Thunder have the Spurs’ number this season, and that trend will continue in their upcoming matchup. Take Oklahoma City straight up – especially if Duncan doesn’t suit up.
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