Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Picks, Preview & Odds - 12/10/2021

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Where to watch: Bally Sports Oklahoma, Spectrum SportsNet

DraftKings: Lakers -5.5

BetMGM: Lakers -5.5

Caesars: Lakers -5.5

Lakers: 13-13 (6th place, Western Conference)

Thunder: 8-16 (14th place, Western Conference)

Lakers: lost 108-95 at Grizzlies on Thursday

Thunder: won 110-109 at Raptors on Wednesday

There is clear fear and regret involving this, but I have to take the Los Angeles Lakers over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday in OKC.

Yes, I fully understand the danger in this because the Lakers are just Grade-A horrenodus right now with no hope in sight.

And if that weren't enough, the Lakers are playing the second night of a back-to-back after getting slapped around by the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.

LeBron James recorded his 100th triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but shot only 7 of 15 and played 37 minutes. Anthony Davis only mustered 22 points and eight rebounds in just 33 minutes.

Russell Westbrook did his thing with a whopping 3 of 9 shooting, per typical Lakers to this point.

"The second quarter was where the energy of the game shifted," Laker coach Frank Vogel said after his group was outscored 34-24 in the second. "Our turnovers went way up. We didn't rebound the basketball. We were slow to every loose ball."

The Lakers were coming off a 15-point win over the Boston Celtics at home on Tuesday, a clear sign that nothing is consistently going right for this group. LeBron is working his way back to form; Davis is not looking like a superstar; Westbrook is looking like a bust.

But sometimes you just need that one easy game to get things back on track, and that's the case with the Lakers visiting the Thunder .

The Thunder have won two straight with road wins against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons. If you were hoping the Thunder would find a way to bounce back after losing by 73 points to the Grizzlies, there you have it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his quest for world domination with a game-high 26 points and nine assists, including the game-winning assist to Mike Muscala for the game-winning three to pull off the upset in Toronto. Lu Dort also chipped in with 22 points.

"I've been really impressed with his restraint and his ability to play the long game," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of his star point guard. "He's home in Canada and he's got the ball in his hands, down by two, and he makes the right play. He doesn't get thirsty and try to force anything up there."

I don't blame anyone for picking the Thunder to win this game. However, I'd like to think the Lakers will have that one moment where things just aren't going their way, only to turn it around against an inferior club on a back-to-back. Despite the fact the Lakers are 1-9-1 in their last 11 ATS when their starting five combine for more than 160 minutes the previous game, this feels like a LeBron-takeover game. Lakers by 10

The Lakers are 5-14 ATS as a favorite this season.

The Lakers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight off consecutive outright losses as a favorite.

The Thunder are 19-8 ATS off two straight non-conference games.

The Thunder are 18-7 ATS off an upset win as a road dog.

PG: Russell Westbrook

SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Talen Horton-Tucker
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SG: Josh Giddey
SF: Luguentz Dort
PF: Darius Bazley
C: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

Points: Anthony Davis – 24.0

Rebounds: Anthony Davis – 10.2

Assists: Russell Westbrook – 8.6

Points: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 21.9

Rebounds: Josh Giddey – 6.7

Assists: Josh Giddey – 5.9