NBA Picks: Toronto Raptors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Toronto Raptors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, 12/22/13, 7:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -11
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -10
Opening Total: 203.5
Current Total: 206
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won all 13 of their home games this season

Toronto has won and covered the number in three of its last four games, as it comes off a 109-108 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks as 6.5-point road underdogs last Friday, while going OVER the betting total for the fourth time in five contests. The Raptors continue a three-game Western Conference road trip in this affair—with those three opponents having a combined record of 33-5 at home this season. All five starters scored in double figures for the fourth time this season last time out, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. Toronto is 3-11 SU and 10-4 ATS as a road underdog of 9.5 to 12 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Raptors have scored 40-plus points in the paint in eight straight games—ranking 15th in the league in averaging 41.2 in that particular area over the course of the 2013-14 campaign. Toronto has split its 12 road games this season, as it has knocked down 36 percent of its three-point shots in that situation—compared to just 32.1 percent when playing at home. Point guard Kyle Lowry is the main player to watch in this affair, as he’s averaging 16.8 points and 7.4 assists in nine games this month.

Oklahoma City has won nine games in a row, including a 113-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs as three-point road underdogs last night, while going OVER the betting total for a second consecutive affair. The Thunder received just 17 points from forward Kevin Durant in that affair, which was 11.3 below his season average, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. The franchise has won the last three meetings in this series by an average of 16.0 points. Oklahoma City is 20-19 ATS when playing on back-to-back days the last two-plus seasons.

The Thunder have won all 13 of their games at Chesapeake Energy Arena—the second longest streak in the Oklahoma City era for the franchise. Oklahoma City will need to get after it on the defensive end to pull off a cover in this spot, considering Toronto is averaging 104.5 points in its last six games—an increase of 7.2 from its first 18 to open up the year.