NBA Odds: Thunder (even)
The Indiana Pacers head to Chesapeake Energy Arena to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game gets underway at 8:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Feb. 24 and will air on FSN-IN and FSN-OK.
The Thunder won big over the Nuggets 119-94 on Sunday. With 21 points and 17 assists, Russell Westbrook recorded his 15th double-double this season. The Pacers, meanwhile, are coming off a 104-98 win over the Warriors on Sunday. Rodney Stuckey led the team in scoring with 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting.
Westbrook has really been playing well as of late for the Thunder, averaging 27.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers over the last five games. Stuckey has also been on fire in the same span, averaging 21.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.6 three-pointers while leading the Pacers.
The battle on the backboards could prove decisive, pitting strength against strength. Oklahoma City is among the league’s elite on the offensive glass, ranking third in offensive rebound percentage at 28.1%. Meanwhile, the Pacers rank second in the NBA at corralling defensive rebounds with a defensive rebound percentage of 78.3%.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Thunder enter the game with records of 31-25 Straight Up (SU) and 27-27-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games. The Oklahoma City defense overall is very good at home, only giving up 95.4 points per game. Teams have to fight for open shots against the Thunder, who have one of the best opponent field-goal percentages in the league at .427. The Thunder are the fourth-best team in the league at blocking shots, averaging 6.1 blocks per game.
On the other side, the Pacers head into the game with records of 30-24-2 ATS and 23-33 SU. Most recently, Indiana is 7-3 ATS over the last 10 games. The Pacers are in for a physical game against Oklahoma City. The Thunder are not afraid to send opponents to the free throw line, averaging 22.3 fouls per game.
This is the first meeting of the season for the Thunder and the Pacers. The last time they played Indiana came out on top, but the Thunder still lead the head-to-head record, 6-4 SU, over the last 10 matchups. At 5-5, they are even bets ATS. Oklahoma City has held the edge in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) twice over the last 10, while Indiana accomplished this once.
Predictions: SU Winner – OKC, ATS Winner – OKC
Notes
Indiana ranks 23rd in points per game with 96.2, while Oklahoma City ranks 11th in points allowed with an average of 98.6 given up.
Indiana puts up an average of 96.3 points per away game (ranked 23rd), while Oklahoma City allows 95.4 points per home game (ranked fifth).
In games where they allow fewer than 100 points, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a solid 21-9. In games where they fail to hit triple digits, the Indiana Pacers have an underachieving record of 7-27.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a losing 10-16 record in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Indiana Pacers are 16-6 when they hit triple digits.
The Thunder have an offensive rating of 103.0 (ranked 15th). The Pacers rank 10th for their defensive rating of 100.9.
On average, Oklahoma City has 98.3 possessions per game and scores 1.030 points on each possession. Indiana has both fewer possessions (96.4) and scores fewer points during those possessions (.998).
Oklahoma City has an average effective field goal percentage of 48.8%. Indiana is a poor 10-17 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
Oklahoma City makes an average of 20.5 assists per game (ranked 24th). Indiana ranks higher in assists with 21.3 (ranked 18th).
The Oklahoma City Thunder average 6.1 blocks per game for a rank of fourth. The Indiana Pacers rank lower (22nd), earning 4.4 blocks each game.
Indiana ranks among the best in the league in defensive rebounding at fourth, while Oklahoma City ranks second in offensive rebounds.
The Oklahoma City Thunder average 7.2 steals per game. When giving up 7 or more steals, the Indiana Pacers have a subpar record (11-27) this season.
