Memphis at Oklahoma City
Time: 7 PM CT (NBA LP)
Spread: OKC -14
Total: 212

Odds c/o 5dimes

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won eight of its past 10 overall and are currently 34-19 and seeded No. 3 in the Western Conference. It will host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies as 14-point favorites on NBA League Pass at 7 PM (CT). The Thunder are 18-7 SU at home this season and the Grizzlies are just 9-19 on the road this season. The over/under is set at 212 points according to NBA oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes.

OKC

Oklahoma City has been rolling, and its plan of attack is slightly different, so perhaps that is why. Russell Westbrook, while still a dominant force in all aspects of the game, has shifted the primary scoring responsibilities to swingman Paul George. George has thrived.

Over his past 10 games, George is averaging 34 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 38 minutes per night. The 28-year-old is in the heart of his prime and absolutely playing like it. In the month of February (three games), he is averaging 39.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and four assists.

Over his last five games, he is averaging 38.4 points per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor and 48 percent from three. He has simply been en fuego–and Westbrook has facilitated plenty of it, in serving a more passive role as the Thunder’s best player and playmaker.

Westbrook had 16 points, 16 assists, and 15 rebounds in his 36 minutes against the Orlando Magic in the Thunder’s most recent 132-122 victory over the Magic. Westbrook is averaging 1.5 points per game less than his career average, but he is averaging 2.8 assists more per game than his career average of 8.3 per contest. He has had a triple-double in seven straight games, and the Thunder have won all but one of those games. It seems that OKC has stumbled across its secret to success this season, but it unclear whether this methodology will be anywhere enough to defeat the vaunted Golden State Warriors when the playoffs roll around. The only thing that is certain, is that the chances are better than ever for this OKC team.

MEM

Despite plenty of turmoil and the trading of center Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies have won its past two games after losing three straight just before it. Memphis is something of a disaster, and it certainly now signals a full-on rebuild with the trading of Gasol.

Memphis is the league’s worst offensive team, barely averaging 100 points per game while giving up 103.4 per night. It also rebounds the ball poorly, corralling just 40.3 rebounds per game and ranking second-to-last in the league. The Grizzlies have some promising talent, but simply not enough of it and it is mixed up with veterans like Mike Conley. The Grizzlies are angling to really rebuild though, the three players it acquired for Gasol can all opt to be free agents.

While the Grizzlies might want center Jonas Valanciunas to stick around, it will more than want the cap room potentially created by the other contracts (particularly CJ Miles) in the deal. Jaren Jackson Jr is having a good rookie season, but the Grizzlies will soon turn its attention to the 2019 draft and determine the best talent to pair with Jackson. At this point, there is little more meaning to the rest of this 2018-19 season since Memphis is 11 games below .500 and in the Western Conference.

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