Pro Basketball Predictions: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors

Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors
Thursday, 4/11/13, 10:30 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -3.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -4
Opening Total: 203
Current Total: 204.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Golden State Warriors will be participating in the 2013 NBA playoffs

Oklahoma City has won four of its last five games, including a 90-80 victory over the Utah Jazz as three-point road favorites Tuesday night, while going UNDER the total for the eighth time in 10 contests. “The stats say we are the second-best defensive team in the league,” commented Thunder coach Scott Brooks. The Thunder are 24-15 overall on the road, including a 13-11 mark versus Western Conference opponents, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread. Oklahoma City is 8-3 ATS as road favorites of 3.5 to 6 points, with the OVER going 6-5 in that situation.

The Thunder lead the NBA in outscoring opponents by an average of 9.2 points per game,while they currently rank third in the league in averaging 105.8 points per game. Oklahoma State finished behind Denver and San Antonio in that particular category a season ago. The team will be playing its 15th and final back-to-back of the season, as it has gone 10-4 on the first night and 9-5 on the second.

Golden State has also won four of its last five games, including an impressive 105-89 blowout victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as seven-point home favorites Tuesday, while going UNDER the total for the third time in four contests. The Warriors secured their spot in the 2013 NBA playoffs already, while they lead the Houston Rockets by a game in the race for the No. 6 seed. Point guard Stephen Curry is the player to watch offensively, as he averages 22.5 points and 6.9 assists per game. Golden State is 9-9 ATS as home underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 11-7 in that situation.

The Warriors are 27-12 overall at Oracle Arena, including a 16-8 mark versus conference rivals. Golden State has lost its last three season series against Oklahoma, but can secure its first series split since 2008-09 with a victory in this spot. The team is 35-10 when outrebounding the opposition this season, while it has won 36 of its last 39 when leading entering the fourth quarter.