Thunder vs Warriors NBA Handicapping
The Oklahoma City Thunder are holding a slight advantage over San Antonio as they enter the final week of the season dead spanking even at 57-21.
Oklahoma City Thunder (57-21) at Golden State Warriors (45-33)
Thursday, April 11
Oracle Arena, Oakland
10:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Thunder -3.5 at Betonline
O/U – 204.5
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With the top seed in the Western Conference han ging in the balance, both teams have games at Golden State (the Thunder are at GS tonight). Both teams also have home games against Sacramento, and one other home game (OKC vs. Milwaukee, SA vs. Minnesota) against a weak opponent.
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But while the Thunder’s other game is against the Trail Blazers, who are going through the motions and lug a 9-game losing streak into the home stretch, the Spurs have to play in Los Angeles against the Lakers, who are scratching and clawing for the final playoff spot.
No matter how things shake down, it will be a fascinating few months of playoffs in the Western Conference. For the first time since the 2007-08 season the WC will probably have five teams with 55 or more regular-season wins going at it in the post-season.
And you can add three more decent teams (Golden State, Houston and probably the Lakers) to an already potent mix. [ad-6571516]
So what if it means only that the survivor gets to be a huge underdog against the Heat? That’s then and this is now, and the only thing that matters is advancing.
Tonight’s game in Oakland in the back end of the TNT doubleheader could be a prelude to a first-round match between the Thunder and Warriors. East Coast fans who decide to stay up late for this one could be rewarded with teams having something to play for.
Golden State is in the midst of a nice 8-3 run over the last three weeks or so, but most of the wins have come against the league’s soft underbelly, and the Warriors came up empty recently against the Spurs and Jazz. So tonight’s game will be a good test for Mark Jackson’s guys as they search for a signature victory headed into the playoffs.
Scorers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get most of the ink, but Golden State has develoepd a decent front line of Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes and David Lee.
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Loving the over in this one. Kevin Durant is battling Carmelo Anthony for the scoring title (note that Anthony’s Knicks play earlier in the night) and Russell Westbrook will get his shots even if all five defenders are allowed to play with ice picks.
Curry and Westbrook could get into a fire-fight, and Thompson is coming off a 30-pooint game. Should be a busy night for the scoreboard operator, with lots of points, especially early.
