NBA Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers VS Oklahoma City Thunder Pick and Predictions 03/01/2023

Game: 8:10 PM ET,  Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

TV:  NBA League Pass

Lakers: 29-33, 12th place Western Conference

Thunder: 28-33, 13th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Thunder -4.5, O/U 226.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Thunder -4.5, O/U 226.5

Fanduel: Point Spread:  Thunder -4.5, O/U 226.5

Lakers: PG Dennis Schroder, SG Malik Beasley, SF Troy Brown Jr, Of Jarred vanderbilt, C Wenyen Gabriel

Thunder: PG Josh Giddey, SG Isaiah Joe, SF Luguentz Dort, PF Jaylen Williams, C Jaylin Williams

A Western Conference battle of 12th and 13th place teams that is beginning to look like a M*A*S*H unit.  These teams are not seriously in playoff contention despite the NBA’s best efforts to bail LeBron James out of this season's irrelevance… That is because the Lakers will be missing three starters… and not just three starters but the three best… LeBroon James, Anthony Davis, and D’Angelo Russell.  The remaining team is a mix of new guys, young guys, and leftovers from the G-League squad they were starting before the Trade Deadline.  The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the league;s true ten best players in PG Shai Gilgeous Alexander… except he has entered the league’s health and safety protocols and will miss this matchup. That leaves PG/SG Josh Giddey to try and stuff stats as the featured “best player”.  The great betting opportunity in this game is in determining what is possibly left on these respective roster to get the win… and more importantly the win ATS.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently jumped the Oklahoma City Warriors in the standings to get to 12th place… This game may drop them to 13th again… and since it is against the Thunder a loss would be a FULL GAME swing… almost cementing them there.  The Lakers have won 5 of their last ten games.  They went 4-6 ATS during that stretch. The recent injury to LeBron James (ankle) may have been a death knell for any playoff hopes the team had this year… LeBron will miss 2-3 weeks which will mean 8-10 games of the final 22. It is unreported why C Anthony Davis is listed as OUT for this game.  They lost their last game to the Memphis Grizzlies 121-109.  They got 28 points & 19 rebounds from C Anthony Davis… and 21 points from SF Lonnie Walker IV in just 22 minutes… but the rest of the roster had pedestrian nights as the Grizzlies PG Ja Morant walked all over them for a 39,10,10 triple double.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a tough team to determine. It is clear that they are more invested in the coming Draft Lottery than the Playoffs… maybe jumping into 12th place does not help the ultimate goal?...  The Thunder have won just 4 of their last 10 games… going 4-4-2 ATS.  They are on a 4 game losing streak.  They lost their last two games to the Sacramento Kings (a good team) both time losing ATS… In the last loss to the Kings the Thunder got just 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists from PG Josh Giddey… though he played in just under 20 minutes… extrapolate those numbers to a 40 minute game and you get an amazing triple double!  But the team may not want to burn Josh out with Shai not on the floor? They also got 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists from PF Jalen Williams… though he only played 32 minutes… are you beginning to see how tanking works? Bench forward Dario Saric had 21 points in 27 minutes… his bench production has been raising eyebrows around the league… He could soon be a trade target with some other GM hoping for a Lauri Markkanen LITE.. since Dario is in a similar boat… talented foreign forward who spent too long on the injury list but still has yet to reach his ceiling.

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Our prediction for Wednesday, March 1st is…. Thunder 118 - Laker 100

Bet on the Thunder.  Unless you think PF Jarred Vanderbilt can drop a 40 point game?... The Thunder should have better teamwork and better available players.

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The Lakers are 0-9 ATS on the road when the total is 220 or greater this season.

The Thunder are 10-2 ATS playing their 3rd game in 4 days.

Lakers: PF Jarred Vanderbilt.  The Lakers got Jarred as one of the many pieces they picked up at the trade deadline… So far he looks like the best “keeper” of the bunch. Jarred is locked in for next season based on his contract… and will luckily get to showcase his skills and become a Free Agent the same time that LaBron James bails the Lakers for whoever drafts Bronny in 2024.  

Thunder: PG Josh Giddey.  Josh is a “do-it-all” 6’7 guard.  He is a great part of the rapidly changing landscape among NBA backcourts… the future is BIG guards that can get rebounds and switch defensive assignments… he and his backcourt mate will be the best tandem going next season.

Lakers: Darvin “Hammy” Ham

Thunder: Mark “huh?” Daigneault