Free NBA Pick: 76ers vs. Thunder NBA Odds
Looking for Philadelphia 76ers vs. OKC Thunder free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the 76ers taking on the Thunder on Saturday, December 31st, 2021 at the Paycom Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this 76ers-Thunder matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(20-14) Philadelphia 76ers vs. OKC Thunder (15-20)
Date: Saturday, December 31st
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
NBA Moneyline Odds: 76ers -185 | Thunder +170 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: 76ers -4.5
NBA Betting Total: 231.5
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Saturday, December 31st, finds the Philadelphia 76ers facing the OKC Thunder for the first of two scheduled matches. Philly will host the second meeting on January 12th.
The 76ers are completing a back-to-back set having lost 116-127 to the Pelicans on Friday while the Thunder lost 113-121 to the Hornets on Thursday.
In history, the Thunder owns the advantage of winning 71 of the clubs’ 141 meetings. Last season the teams played twice with Philly winning both contests and possessing a current five-game win streak versus the Thunder.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Friday evening, December 30th. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Saturday, December 31st.
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey returned to the court after an 18-game absence and logically was a bit rusty. He played 19 minutes entering as a reserve scoring nine points but was a team-worst minus -18.
James Harden delivered a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists while Joel Embiid led the 76ers in scoring with 37 points. Tobias Harris (14) and De’Anthony Melton (11) were the only other double-figure contributors.
This season, the 76ers score an average of 111.7 points per game ranking 21st. Philly shoots 47.5% from the field and 38.0% from the perimeter, ranking 12th and fifth respectively.
Defense is where the 76ers make their mark allowing the second-fewest opponent points per game with 108.0 and the best perimeter defense at 32.9% while ranking eighth for opponent field goal percentage allowing opponents to shoot 46.2%.
The fourth quarter tell… Philly is 19-1 when leading (or tied) entering the fourth quarter and 1-13 when trailing!
OKC Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is producing an All-Star, All-NBA-worthy season averaging 31.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
His shooting splits are 50.5% from the field, 35.1% from deep, and 92.0% from the stripe taking 20.8, 2.9, and 10.2 shots from those areas respectively.
The Thunder score 115.7 points per game ranking seventh shooting 46.1% from the field (22nd) and 34.7% from deep (18th).
Defensively, the Thunder rank 25th for opponent points allowing 116.9 per game while opponents shoot 46.7% from the field (14th) and 36.3% from the perimeter (20th).
Ousmane Dieng (wrist) is questionable. Aleksej Pokusevski (leg) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) are out. Chet Holmgren (foot) is out for the season. Tre Mann and Jaylin Williams are on G League assignment
NBA Betting Trends:
- The 76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The Thunder are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games.
- The 76ers are 3-10 SU in their last 13 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
- The Thunder are 4-16 SU in their last 20 games played on a Saturday.
- The 76ers are 11-4 SU in their last 15 games played in December.
Free Philadelphia 76ers vs. OKC Thunder NBA Prediction:
Although Doc Rivers brought Maxey in as a sub, the question is whether this will be an ongoing choice since the 76ers defense has vastly improved while the offensively gifted guard was out.
While Harden and Maxey are strong offensively, neither is above average defensively so starting Melton makes Philly a better two-way club. I suspect Rivers will stick with Melton initially but will either switch back to Maxey or at worst, finish games with him on the court.
Both clubs failed to seize an opportunity to close the gap between the teams just in front of them. Philly garners a home-court seed while the Thunder are within reach of a play-in berth.
OKC, in particular, missed out as the Jazz and Wolves who sit in 10th and 11th are on three and five-game losing streaks but the Thunder are 4-6 through their last 10 matches.
The Thunder will have issues limiting Embiid but similarly, the 76ers (and Melton) will be hard-pressed to deal with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with only Matisse Thybulle defensively capable of slowing him but then Philly will suffer offensively. So I like the points and if the whistle is even then I also like the Thunder to ring in the New Year happy.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Thunder +4.5
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