NBA Betting? Thunder vs Warriors Predictions
The nightcap of the NBA on TNT doubleheader features the Golden State Warriors taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oakland, California. Cappers Picks provides free NBA basketball handicapping tips all season long.
Two days after seeing their 16 game winning streak snapped, Golden State welcomes in the Oklahoma City Thunder in hopes of starting up a new streak.
NBA Basketball Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder (12-13) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-3)
Thursday, Dec. 18
10:30 PM ET
Oracle Arena (Oakland, California)
TNT
NBA Basketball Betting Lines: Golden State -2.5
NBA Basketball O/U: 210
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Meanwhile, the Thunder attempt to run their current win streak to 8 games.
Oklahoma City
After weathering the injury storm early in the season, Oklahoma City has climbed back into the Western Conference race behind their two returning superstars Kevin Durand and Russell Westbrook.
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Running off 7 straight wins, the Thunder have jumped to just 1 game under the .500 mark and find themselves in 2nd place of the NBA Northwest Division.
Prior to the return of Durant and Westbrook, Oklahoma City lacked any type of offensive production. With Westbrook now pitching in 26.4 points a game and Durant contributing 21.5 points a game, Oklahoma City has improved to the 23rd best scoring offense in the NBA (95.7 points). The duo led the way in the Thunder’s previous game against Sacramento scoring 58 of the teams 104 points.
While the offense has received quite the boost, the defense for the Thunder has improved mightily during their 7 game winning streak.
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Oklahoma City has held their opponents to just 93.1 points a contest. They’ve also held the opposition to just 40.2 percent shooting from the field. Oklahoma City continues to roll with the best defense in the NBA allowing just 93.9 points against this season.
While the Thunder away record is just 5-8 S.U., since the return of Durant and Westbrook, Oklahoma City has won 4 straight road contests.
Golden State
It took almost 5 full weeks for somebody to finally knock off the Golden State Warriors. Stringing together a 16 game winning streak, Golden State finds themselves atop the NBA Standings. On Tuesday, they ran into the 2nd best team in the NBA and fell short on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies. Returning home to Oracle Arena could be just what the Warriors need to get another win streak started up.
While the Thunder have the Durant-Westbrook connection, not too far behind them as far as the best duos are concerned is the Curry-Thompson duo. Steph Curry comes in to Thursdays match up averaging 23.5 points a game. Not too far behind him is his partner, Klay Thompson, who is averaging 21.7 points a game. The two have led Golden State to the 3rd best scoring offense in the NBA with 107.2 points a game.
Clearly scoring points is their speciality, but the Warriors are also having consistent success in both assists and rebounding. The Warriors rank top 5 in both categories with 45.8 rebounds a game (3rd) and 25.0 assists a game (4th).
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Inside Oracle Arena this season Golden State is currently 8-1 S.U. and 6-3 ATS.
NBA Basketball Trends:
- Thunder are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Free 4* NBA Basketball Pick: Golden State -2.5
Expect the TNT audience to see a show put on in this game. With the game being close in the 4th quarter, this will likely come down to which star steps up in the clutch.
Golden State 107, Oklahoma City 100
In the end, Steph Curry powers the Warriors to a win and puts an end to the Thunder winning streak.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds.
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