Toronto at Oklahoma City
Time: 7 PM ET
TV: NBA TV
Spread: OKC -6
Total: 213
Betting odds c/o Bovada
“No Kevin Durant, no problem.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been riding the wave of Russell Westbrook’s dominance as winners of seven of its past 10 games. OKC will host the Toronto Raptors, the No. 4 team in the East, in a game on NBA TV this Sunday.
The Thunder are 6-point favorites in NBA live lines, and the total for the game is set high at 213. See our NBA odds explained to understand how to bet on NBA point spreads and totals.
The Thunder hold just a half-game lead on the New Orleans Pelicans for the final playoffs spot in the West, and OKC fell 108-105 on the road to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. Over his last nine games, Westbrook has averaged a triple double. How crazy is that, really? He’s put up 33.7 points, 10.6 assists and 10 rebounds per game in 35.3 minutes a night. Westbrook attempted 33 shots in the win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night and 32 shots against the Bulls. He’s shot just 43 percent over the stellar stretch of games, but he’s getting his teammates involved plenty too, averaging 8.5 assists over the past two games despite the 65 shot attempts.
There’s going to be a close MVP voting between Westbrook and Houston’s James Harden when this season is over, and given the injury problems Westbrook faced, there is a strong argument towards giving it to Westbrook’s former teammate and one-time Sixth Man of the Year James Harden.
For now, the Thunder just have to focus on staying or getting into the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors will not want to draw OKC in that first round matchup, as a series with the inexperienced Pelicans would be a much safer draw for the Warriors. OKC should have Kevin Durant back for the postseason, and the argument could be made that the No. 8 seed is equally as strong as the No. 1, though the Warriors have been unmatchably good this season.
Toronto is 38-24 but has lost seven of its past 10 games, including its last two. The Raptors are 12-11 against the Western Conference this year, as well. Toronto is 17-13 on the road this season, and the Thunder are 20-8 at home, despite being just six games above .500. The NBA oddsmakers have set the line appropriately, despite the fact that the Raptors are a solid team in the East. Toronto fell 103-94 to the Charlotte Hornets on Wed (Mar 6) night, despite getting 30 points from one-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. He and Kyle Lowry combined for 55 points in the backcourt, shooting 48 of the Raptors 91 field goal attempts. Lowry started for the East in the All-Star game but is out for this contest (per Rotowire, no information on injury or reason).
Lowry has struggled badly over his past seven contests, averaging just 13.7 points and five assists per game, while shooting 33.7 percent from the floor. He played 38 minutes in his return to the starting lineup on Friday, and the 8th year pro is the key to the Raptors being the formidable team it was earlier this season. In March, Lowry averaged 25 points, five assists and five rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from the floor in 38 minutes a night. He’s not a high percentage shooter, but he is 34.6 percent from three-point range over his career which is good enough to keep defenses honest.
Between Lowry, DeRozan and swingman Terrence Ross, the Raptors have the speed to keep teams backpedaling. Center Jonas Valanciunas has continued to improve and become one of the league’s top young big men. The Raptors have a lot of pieces to be a contending team, but lack a transcending superstar to isolate late in games. Doreen can be that guy when he is at his best, but it’s hard to imagine the Raptors being able to overcome the Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks or even the Washington Wizards—especially given the team’s recent struggles.
