The NBA season is moving along quickly. It all seems like a distant memory when the Cleveland Cavaliers were struggling to start the season and the Oklahoma City Thunder began the season without both of their stars.
Now that both teams are hitting their stride, we’ll see them clash in an epic Thursday night game on TNT. That’ll be one of the games on the board for betting tonight along with an epic Western Conference showdown as well. Here’s a preview and pick for both nationally televised games.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Odds: Thunder -2.5
The Oklahoma City Thunder are still under the .500 mark and they’re not yet in a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They’re well behind the seventh-place Dallas Mavericks in the West; only the eighth-place Phoenix Suns are realistically within reach at this point. Yet, while the Thunder’s record is poor overall, the team is 4-1 in its last five games, and that record coincides with the return of (first) Russell Westbrook on Friday, Nov. 28, and then the return of Kevin Durant shortly thereafter. The Thunder have their main pieces on the court again and as you’d definitely expect, Oklahoma City has begun to win with its main men healthy.
Westbrook has been the leading scorer for the Thunder in three of these past five games, and Durant has been the team’s leading scorer in one of those games. Oklahoma City has scored at least 103 points in four of those five, bolstering an offense that was averaging well under 100 points through the first four weeks of the season. It’s not overly surprising that the Thunder are looking competent, productive and like a championship-caliber team now that everyone is back in the lineup. Quite frankly, this is the Oklahoma City team everyone expected to see.
With the bench guys no longer being overworked, the Thunder should have the right balance needed to beat a Cleveland team that has won its last eight games. Although the Cavaliers are playing really well heading into this game (winners of eight straight), this is a statement opportunity for the Thunder. If they’re truly going to be a title contender this year, then they have to win games like this on their home court. They’ll treat this like a playoff game and find a way to end the Cavs hot streak. Pick: Thunder -2.5
Houston Rockets @ Sacramento Kings
Odds: NO LINE
This is a game in which the Rockets have to be given the upper hand. Houston had won four in a row and is 7-4 in its last 11 games before Wednesday night’s ugly loss in Golden State but that’s nothing to sweat. The Warriors are the best team in the NBA right now.
The Rockets were supposed to have experienced a drop-off with Chandler Parsons gone, but they’re getting balanced contributions from their roster and would likely have a record better than 16-4 if not for an injury to Dwight Howard, which cost this team a few losses.
Houston’s success is due to the fact that it has become a strong defensive team. This is possible because James Harden, a defensive liability for so long, has decided to play defense. The Rockets allow an average of only 94.1 points per game, so even though they’re averaging just under 99 points per game, they are regularly able to stay a step ahead of the opposition. Howard is a huge part of this defensive effort with his presence in the middle, but it’s been a team contribution so far.
Sacramento, on the other hand, gives up 101.1 points per game and is struggling in the worst way these days without All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins in the lineup. He’s out indefinitely with an illness and the Kings haven’t had answers without his help. They’ve now lost 19 of the last 21 games they’ve played without him. That trend should extend again tonight when the Rockets win and cover. Pick: Rockets
