NBA Betting Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, 1/27/13, 3:30 PM EST, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -3.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -3.5
Opening Total: 210
Current Total: 206.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-11 SU as an underdog this year

Oklahoma City will close out a six-game road trip Sunday, as it comes off a 105-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings as 9.5-point favorites, while going UNDER the total in two consecutive contests. The Thunder have won nine of their last 11 games in this series, which included a five-game victory in last year’s Western Conference semifinals. The franchise is 15-7 away from Chesapeake Energy Arena this season, including a 9-4 mark versus conference rivals. Oklahoma City is 5-1 ATS as road favorites of 3.5 to 6 points this season, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread.

The Thunder lead the league in scoring 105.9 points per game, while also sitting above all teams with an 8.8 point differential. On the other end of the floor, Oklahoma City is allowing opponents to score 97.1 points on 43 percent shooting. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have played amazing offensive basketball in the first five games of this road trip—combining to score 68.7 points per game. The squad is 21-5 this season when each score 20-plus points this year.

Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak last time out, as it came away with an impressive 102-84 victory over the Utah Jazz as five-point home favorites, while going UNDER the posted total of 204.5. “It’s not about showing we’ve turned the corner,” commented Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. “It’s about doing it.” The Lakers are a miserable 3-10 overall in the month of January, while they’ve gone 2-9 ATS as underdogs this year. Los Angeles is 4-5 ATS when revenging a home loss versus an opponent during the 2012-13 regular season, which is something to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

The Lakers are 13-10 overall at the Staples Center this year, including a 7-6 mark versus conference rivals. Los Angeles ranks sixth in the NBA in averaging 102.3 points per game, but sit 26th in terms of defense, allowing 101.1 points per game. Shooting guard Kobe Bryant is the key player to watch offensively, as he ranks third in the NBA in averaging 28.9 points per game.