Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors dribbles past Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a game January 18. (Getty)
The Golden State Warriors come into Oklahoma City as the favorites against the Thunder. The Warriors will be playing their second game in two days when the two teams meet. They have won 14 out of their last 16 games, but those two losses came in road games. The Thunder, on the other hand, have been hit-or-miss lately. They have lost four out of their last six games, but enter the game following a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 9.
There is a lot on the line in Kevin Durant’s return to play his old team and former teammate Russell Westbrook.
Here are the current betting odds for the game:
Warriors vs. Thunder Betting Info
Note: All odds and numbers courtesy of OddsShark.com.
Spread: Warriors (-7.5)
Betting Percentages: Golden State (-7.5)
Over/Under: 227
Betting Percentages: 67 percent for the OVER (227)
Season Results: Warriors 45-8 overall, 26-25-2 against the spread and 23-20 for the OVER/UNDER line — Thunder 31-23 overall, 30-24 against the spread and 23-29-2 for the OVER/UNDER line
Prediction
As the story has been recently, the Warriors are playing at a very high level and will look to continue to do so against the Thunder. There’s a lot at stake in this game — not just because of Durant’s return to Oklahoma City, either. The Warriors sit in the top spot in the Western Conference at 45-8, while the Thunder have a 31-23 record and are locked into the No. 7 spot. The Thunder are looking to get a big win against the franchise that sent them packing from the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
Of course, the game’s biggest storyline is Durant coming back to Oklahoma City and Westbrook setting out to prove that he doesn’t need him in order to win.
The teams have played twice already this season, with the Warriors winning big in both contests. But the stakes and location make the game a different story. The Thunder have played strong at home and figure to be tough competition for the West’s top seed. With the exception of a home loss to the Chicago Bulls on February 1, the Thunder haven’t lost at Chesapeake Energy Arena since December 19.
The last time the Warriors won a game by less than 10 points was January 29 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Look for Steph Curry and company to start the game out hot and cover the 7.5-point spread in a high-scoring affair. With so many offensive weapons, the teams should combine to cover the 227-point OVER/UNDER, too. With the motivation high for both teams, the prediction is that the Warriors get a big road win against the Thunder.
