NBA Preview: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder

Added on Mar 05, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

More NBA betting action for Sunday, this time we’ll look at a Western Conference battle between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns are trying to pull into a playoff spot, currently 1/2 game behind Memphis for the #8 position. Oklahoma City is in 4th place but that seeding is far from secure in the tightly packed West.

Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
March 6, 2011 4:05 PM Pacific

The Phoenix Suns have given the Thunder problems in recent meetings–they’ve won 6 of the last 9 matchups including 4 of the last 5 in Oklahoma City. This is a bad scheduling spot for them, however, as they finish up a six game road trip that has seen them compile a 4-1 SU record. Phoenix has been a slightly better than breakeven investment on the road and as an underdog (15-14 ATS in both roles) and have turned a profit in games with a total of 210 or higher that in theory at least favor their uptempo style going 16-12 ATS and have been very good in this situation on the road posting a 10-6 SU/ATS record. We just don’t see them coming out with a lot of energy at the end of a grueling road trip.

More significantly, we don’t like their prospects at matching points with Kevin Durant. Durant suffered an ankle sprain earlier in the week but looked good in the Thunder’s win over Atlanta and he could be poised for a big game against the Suns’ #25 ranked scoring defense. Oklahoma City isn’t a defensive powerhouse either, but they’re at least better than Phoenix. The Thunder do have a tough road game on deck at Memphis on Monday but at this stage of the year–and having lost three straight last week–they need to solidify their playoff positioning. Against a possibly fatigued Phoenix team they’ll have a great opportunity. Vince Carter missed the last game for Phoenix and is listed as ‘questionable’ for Sunday which could give the Suns one less offensive weapon. We look for the Thunder to come out with more energy and get a decisive win here. They’ll miss backup pointguard Nate Robinson who’ll be out for a few weeks, but in this game at least the current NBA scoring leader should be able to carry the load himself.

Bet Oklahoma City Thunder -5′ over Phoenix Suns