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Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington Wizards Prediction 12-23-24 NBA Picks

Washington Wizards (4-22) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-6)
December 23, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Oklahoma City Thunder -18.5; Over/Under: +225
(Get latest betting odds)

The Washington Wizards travel to the Paycom Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. Here’s an Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington Wizards Prediction. This article will include an Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington Wizards Pick.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 22 of their first 26 games and they will be hoping to avoid another defeat after getting routed by the Bucks in a 112-101 road defeat on Saturday. Jordan Poole drained eight 3-pointers to lead the team with 26 points, Bilal Coulibaly added 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists while Corey Kispert chipped in with 16 points off the bench.
As a team, the Wizards shot 44 percent from the field and 18 of 42 from the 3-point line as they matched the Bucks early on, but it was all downhill after they scored just 14 points in the second quarter. Malcolm Brogdon had a game to forget as he scored just five points on two of 10 shooting while Jordan Poole finished with seven turnovers.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in great shape as they’ve won 11 of their last 13 games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight win after beating the Heat in a 104-97 road win on Friday. Jalen Williams led the team in scoring with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 points while Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 13 points and 18 rebounds.
As a team, the Thunder shot 45 percent from the field and 14 of 34 from the 3-point line as they took the narrow lead into halftime before they went on a run in the third quarter to push the margin out to 12 points which was more than enough to hold off the Heat.

Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win

  • The Wizards have lost each of their last 13 road games against Western Conference opponents.
  • The Thunder have won each of their last 12 games against Southeast Division opponents.
  • The Thunder have covered the spread in seven of their last eight home games against Southeast Division opponents that held a losing record.
  • The Wizards have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.

Total Points Facts

  • Each of the Thunder’s last five games against Eastern Conference opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
  • Each of the Wizards’ last four road games against Northwest Division opponents has gone OVER the total points line.

Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of only two players in the league to have scored 25+ points in 10 straight games this season.
  • Jalen Williams ranks 6th in the league for fast break points (106) this season.

Washington Wizards Player Facts

  • Alex Sarr ranks 3rd in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for Blocks Per Game (1.8) this season.
  • Jordan Poole ranks 4th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.6) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

  • The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent points per game this season (103.1).
  • The Thunder rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+11.7).
  • The Wizards rank 30th in the league for opponent points per game this season (122.2).
  • The Wizards rank 30th in the league for point differential per game this season (-14.7).

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington Wizards Prediction

The Wizards are still missing Kyle Kuzma and they have Bilal Coulibaly listed as questionable, while the Thunder are still without Chet Holmgren and Alex Ducas. The Wizards haven’t had much to be optimistic about all season and they were far from competitive in their last game, despite eight 3-pointers from Jordan Poole. In contrast, the Thunder have been on fire and they have hardly put a foot wrong in the past three weeks to win 11 of their last 13 games. The line is certainly massive for this one, but the Wizards would be seriously short on firepower if Coulibaly doesn’t suit up for this already-depleted lineup. I think the Thunder make mince meat of this line and win by at least 20 points at home.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Oklahoma City -18.5

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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