Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Betting Odds and Picks

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Saturday, 1/4/14, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Minnesota -1.5
Current Betting Line: Minnesota -2
Opening Total: 209
Current Total: 208
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season

Oklahoma City has dropped back-to-back games, including a 95-93 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets as 12-point home favorites Thursday, while going UNDER the betting total for a fourth consecutive contest. The Thunder will need a huge performance from forward Kevin Durant, who is averaging 32.0 points in four games since point guard Russell Westbrook went down with a knee injury. The franchise has won seven consecutive road games, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. Oklahoma City is 30-10 SU and 28-12 ATS off a upset loss as a favorite the last two-plus seasons.

The Thunder are 11-4 SU away from Chesapeake Energy Arena this season, including a 6-4 mark versus Western Conference opponents. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Oklahoma City has compiled a 35-9 record in bounce-back games. The team has posted a 3-1 record in the first game and 1-3 mark in the second game of back-to-back situations this season.

Minnesota has won and covered the number in three of its last four games, with the OVER going 3-1 in that span, including a 124-112 victory over the New Orleans Hornets as five-point home favorites last time out. The Timberwolves rank second in the league in scoring 106.7 points a contest, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NBA betting lines. The franchise has won four of its last five home games—averaging 117.5 points in those victories. Minnesota is 6-5 ATS in home games with a betting total between 205 and 209.5, with the UNDER going 8-3 in that situation.

The Timberwolves have a great opportunity of picking up a victory in this affair, considering the home team has won each of the last six meetings. Minnesota is 16-9 SU when scoring 100 or more points this season, while it has dropped all seven when failing to hit the century mark. It’s important to point out that the franchise has won a league-leading six games by 20 or more points this season.