Pro Basketball Odds and Picks: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat

Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
Tuesday, 12/25/12, 5:30 PM EST, TV: ABC
Opening Point Spread: Miami -3.5
Current Betting Line: Miami -2.5
Opening Total: 203
Current Total: 204
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Oklahoma City Thunder are known to bounce back after a loss

Oklahoma City will close out a three-game road trip on Christmas Day, as it looks to bounce back from a 99-93 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves as two-point road favorites last Thursday. The Thunder are 8-1 in the month of December this year, as they prepare to play their first game as an underdog in the 2012-13 NBA regular season. Oklahoma City is 3-0 ATS off a upset loss as a favorite this season, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

The Thunder have won their past two games on this particular holiday, as they look to improve up on their 10-2 overall mark versus Eastern Conference teams, which includes a 5-1 record on the road. Oklahoma City is already a perfect 4-0 in games following a loss this season, while the franchise posted a 15-3 mark in that situation during the 2011-12 campaign. Offensively, the team ranks second in the NBA in scoring 105.1 points per game, while pacing all squads in hitting 84.5 percent of its free throw attempts.

Miami has scored 102 or more points in winning its last four games, which includes a 105-89 victory over the Utah Jazz as 7.5-point home favorites, while going UNDER the total for a fifth time in six contests. The Heat are 10-3 overall against Western Conference foes, which includes a 6-1 mark when playing at AmericanAirlines Arena. The franchise has hit at least the century mark in scoring in 13 of its 15 home games, averaging 106.7 points. Miami is 9-6 ATS at home, with the OVER going 8-7 in that situation.

The Heat are 26-4 in their last 30 games in the month of December, as they’ll try to continue scoring points off opponents’ miscues. Miami has averaged 23.0 points off turnovers over the past four games. Tuesday’s game marks the ninth time the franchise has played on Christmas, as it looks to push its win streak to four games on this particular day.