The Los Angeles Lakers pay a visit to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on Thursday night. Here’s a Lakers vs Thunder Prediction.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in great form as they’ve won eight of their last 11 games overall and they will be eager to keep it going after rolling past the Pistons in a 133-107 road win last night. D’Angelo Russell led the team with 35 points and nine assists on 13 of 17 shooting, Anthony Davis added 28 points with 16 rebounds and three blocks, while LeBron James tallied 25 points with eight rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Lakers shot 51 percent from the field and 12 of 34 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 38 points in the first quarter to jump out to an early double-digit lead and they just never took their foot off the gas, outscoring the Pistons in every quarter despite just 21 points from their bench players.
Los Angeles Lakers Team Facts
- The Lakers have lost each of their last nine games as underdogs following a road win.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine games as underdogs following a road win.
- Each of the Lakers’ last five games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder look to have cooled off from their six-game win streak as they are now hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after falling just short to the Timberwolves in a 106-103 road loss on Tuesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 32 points on 13 of 22 shooting, Chet Holmgren added 16 points with eight rebounds and six assists while Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey scored 10 points each. As a team, the Thunder shot just 41 percent from the field and 11 of 30 from the 3-point line as they got off to a quick start to take an early 12-point lead, but they couldn’t hold off the Timberwolves and scored just 42 points in the second half to finish painfully short in the end. The Thunder played great pressure defense to force the Timberwolves into 19 turnovers, but they got outhustled on the boards and didn’t have a single bench player score more than 10 points.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Facts
- The Thunder have won eight of their last nine home games when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as favorites when playing with a rest advantage.
- Fourteen of the Thunder’s last 15 games as home favorites against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
Lakers vs Thunder Prediction
The Lakers are shorthanded once again with Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura both out, while the Thunder are coming into this one with a full squad. The Lakers have continued their rise with a dominant win over the Pistons last night, while the Thunder are coming off their second straight loss after winning six straight. The Lakers are playing their second game of a back to back set which means they could easily rest a player or two at the last second, but I’m still taking the Lakers with the points in what should be a close one.
