NBA Basketball Matchup: Thunder vs Magic
After a nice comeback win in Philadelphia last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder own the best record in the NBA at 28-7.
8:00 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Thunder -1
Over/Under: 192.5
This is a team that continues to mature, and they will be very dangerous in the playoffs this year.
Orlando has put it together after a poor start. The Magic have won six of their last eight overall.
The oddsmakers expect a very close one here.
Kevin Durant was named MVP of the All-Star Game, and he came out and put up 23 points in last night’s win.
Any team that has both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the same squad is going to very good. Westbrook doesn’t get quite the same accolades as Durant, but he he has gotten better every year since he came into the league. Westbrook averages 23.5 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game.
James Harden is pouring in 16.8 points per game, and he is a guy who can get his own shot at almost any time. Serge Ibaka is an underrated defensive presence, and Nick Collison is back to help on that end of the floor as well. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This is a well-rounded team that doesn’t have any clear weaknesses.
Dwight Howard is still with the Magic, and recent rumors say Orlando is looking to bolster the team through a trade that might make Howard want to stay. Howard’s numbers are down a bit from last year, but they are still very good.
He averages 19.9 points and 15.1 boards per game. He is shooting a career-low 49.4% from the free throw line. Ryan Anderson has had a breakout season for the Magic.
Anderson averages 16.3 points per game after scoring just 10.6 per contest last year. Anderson, Redick, and Richardson all shoot 40% or better from beyond the arc.
The Magic can be very tough to beat when they are knocking down long-range shots.
Both teams are playing the second game of a back-to-back in this one. Oklahoma City is the deeper and more complete team. I think the Thunder win a close one.
Prediction: Oklahoma City 95 Orlando 92