The first half of the NBA season comes to a close on Thursday night in the
TNT nightcap when the Oklahoma City Thunder look to hand the Los Angeles Lakers
their franchise-record seventh straight home loss. OKC is a 12-point favorite to
do so on WagerWeb.
Oklahoma City has won 14 of its past 16 games to take control of the
Western Conference’s top seed. It won 98-95 at Portland on Tuesday. Kevin Durant
had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against the
Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year. Jeremy Lamb had 19
points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western
Conference-leading Thunder.
Durant and Serge Ibaka entered the game as the highest-scoring duo in the
NBA over LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard but Durant didn’t even need Ibaka
to outscore the Blazers duo by himself Tuesday. The two Blazers combined for 28
points. In the last 16 games, Ibaka is averaging 17.9 points on 61.1% shooting
to go along with 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Ibaka has scored 20+
points in six of his last 11 outings. Already this season, Ibaka has recorded 19
double-doubles (posted 15 double-doubles from all of last season).
The Lakers lost their second straight game Tuesday, 96-79 to Utah. Chris
Kaman had 25 points and 14 boards for the Lakers, who have dropped nine of 11
overall and 21 of 26 since Dec. 21. The loss to Utah put Los Angeles in 14th
place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Jazz and a game ahead of
last-place Sacramento.
The Lakers’ top six scorers — Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Jordan Farmar, Nick
Young, Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry — are still on the shelf with injuries.
Steve Nash played only 17 minutes and had to exit early for the second straight
game because of nerve-root irritation in his left leg. Steve Blake and Kendall
Marshall — L.A.’s backcourt to start the second half once Nash went out —
combined to shoot 5-for-24. Nash is doubtful to play in this one.
L.A. trotted out its 26th starting lineup this season against a team that
had won only 17 of its first 50 games, and then proceeded to blow a 15-point
lead en route to its 34th defeat of the season. It also was the Lakers’ sixth
straight loss at home, which ties a franchise record.
This is the second meeting of the season between the Lakers and Thunder. On
Dec. 13 at home, the Thunder rolled 122-97. Durant had 31 points, eight rebounds
and five assists, while currently injured Russell Westbrook added 19 points, 12
assists and eight rebounds. Kobe had 13 assists but just four points and seven
turnovers. The Thunder finished with a season-high 34 assists and outrebounded
the Lakers 59-41.
The Lakers are 15-8 in their last 23 regular season games against Oklahoma
City. At home, the Lakers have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games against the
Thunder. L.A. is 17-11 all-time against Oklahoma City at Staples Center.
WagerWeb trends: Thunder are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Western
Conference. Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning
% below .400. Thunder are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games. Lakers are 1-4 ATS
in their last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. Lakers are 1-4
ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest. Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their
last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. Lakers are 0-4 ATS in
their last 4 home games. Favorite is 5-2-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
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