Oklahoma City at Sacramento
Time: 10:05 PM ET, Apr 8, 2014
Spread: OKC -8.5
Total: 202

Betting odds courtesy of 5dimes

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still scrapping for seeding with the Los Angeles Clippers, and will travel to Sacramento to face the Kings in a game NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Thunder by 8.5 points.

The Thunder lost 122-115 to Phoenix on Sunday night for its second straight loss. Kevin Durant had 38 points and 11 rebounds and Westbrook returned to action with 33 points and eight assists, but the Suns had a balanced attack and Gerald Green hit five of the Suns 11 three-point field goals.

The Thunder will face the Clippers, Pelicans, Pacers, Pelicans (again) and Pistons to close out the season. Only the Clippers are a playoff team, and Scott Brooks club should win all of these contests to hold on to the No. 2 seed. But the Thunder are coming off back-to-back losses, and the defense was suspect against the Suns.

Sacramento has been a passable club offensively due to the immense talent on its roster. Its defense where the Kings have struggled mightily, allowing 103.2 points per game. The club can rely on DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and Rudy Gay for offense; all three average 20 points per game or more.

But the focus hasn’t been there on the defensive end and Cousins isn’t much of a rim protector when his teammates get beat on the perimeter. He’s blocking just 1.25 shots per game, and if the Kings could find a way to bring in a defensive minded big man, that may do more than acquiring another top tier scorer.

OKC Trends: UNDER 5-0 in last 5 vs teams with losing SU records; 0-5 ATS in last 5 vs teams with losing home records; 0-5 ATS in last 5 road games.

SAC Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 when opponent allows 100 points or more in previous game; UNDER 4-0 in last 4 when opponent scores 100 or more in previous game; UNDER 5-0 in last 5 vs teams with winning SU records.

Head-to-head: UNDER 5-0 in last 5 meetings.