NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder VS Portland Trail Blazers Pick and Predictions 02/10/2023

Game: 10:10 PM ET,  Friday, February 10th, 2023

Venue:  Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

TV:  NBA League Pass

Thunder: 26-28, 12th place Western Conference

Blazers: 27-28, 10th place Western Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread: Blazers -3.5, O/U 239.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Blazers -3.5, O/U 239.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Blazers -3, O/U 240

Thunder: PG Shai Gilgeous Alexander, SG Josh Giddey, SF Aaron Wiggins, PF Jalen Williams, C Jaylin Williams

Blazers: PG Damian Lilliard, SG Anfernee Simons, SF Nassir Little, PF Jerami Grant, C Drew Eubanks

An NBA Western Conference battle between teams that share three very key current realities.  Both of these teams get almost everything they have out of a tandem of guards that are among the league’s best.  Both teams are missing a powerful man in the post.  And both teams are just a notch or two above the Los Angeles Lakers who just suddenly improved their roster for a second half of the season.  They will feel the heat from Los Angeles… and either team may be seduced into tanking because the grand prize for doing it well?... Is the reward of the most powerful man in the post in decades!  The great betting opportunity here is all about who is healthy and ready… Oh and who has the guards who show up and show out!

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won 5 of their last 10 games… a surefire formula to tread water in the West where most teams are separated by just a game or two in the standings. They won their last game against the Los Angeles Lakers 133-130 for a win ATS.  It was the night LeBron James set the league’s all-time scoring record… you may remember it. In that win PG Shai Gilgeous Alexander took center stage for the Thunder as he does most nights while getting 30 points & 8 assists.  If the Clippers had never traded Shai with lots of picks and pieces… They would be in a much better spot today.  Paul George is a fine player, but Shai is 30 ppg… and among the league’s top ten players NOW.  SG Josh Giddey (who is more of the point guard) dropped 20 points & 6 assists.  This backcourt is rapidly becoming the best in the NBA.  PF Jaylen Williams also dropped 25 points… and though it was close… The Thunder got the win.

The Portland Trail Blazers have won 6 of their last 10 games… with each win they have been able to hold off the Lakers and the Thunder who are beneath them waiting and biding.  The Trail Blazers hit the trade deadline with a move to shuffle starting SF Josh Hart elsewhere.. They picked up a first round pick in the move AND Cam Reddish.. Who may or not play a lot.  Cam does have a better body than Josh Hart to occupy the small forward spot but?... He hasn’t fared well in the NBA in his first 3 seasons. The bigger part of the Josh Hart move was to get salary cap space to resign PF Jerami Grant. They also moved Gary Payton II to Golden State.. Where they got him 6 months ago… the result was 5 2nd round picks… which they most likely will use some, trade some to keep those costs down.  The Blazers still have to pay $50 million to PG Damian Lilliard for the next 4 seasons… That means if they want a big man finally they will have to find him on the cheap.

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The Thunder are 3rd in scoring with 117.6 points a game, 13th in rebounds with 43.9 per game.  On defense they rank 21st in defense of points while holding opponents to 116.6 points a game.  That is a thin 1 point margin within to eek out wins.. They have “eeked out” two less wins than losses.

The Blazers are 12th in scoring with 114.7 points per game, 24th in rebounds with 41.8 per game. On defense they are 18th in defense of points while allowing 114.4 per game… They are separated by an even smaller margin of points, but along the way they got a few extra wins.

Our prediction for Friday, February 10th is…. Thunder 118 - Blazers 111

Bet on the Thunder.  Shai Gilgeous Alexander has reached a full stride in the NBA.. Alongside Josh Giddey the duo can more than handle Lillaird and Simons,..,, especially since the Blazers will now be experimenting with the Small Forward spot.

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OKC is 3-1 ATS versus Portland at Portland the last 3 seasons.

OKC is 27-13 ATS as an underdog this season.

Blazers are 12-3 ATS after playing 2 consecutive home games this season.

Thunder: PG Shai Gilgeous Alexander… Say it once… Say it twice.  Shai is a full-fledged top ten player in the NBA.  The moment he gets a proper mix of teammates the Thunder will strike.

Blazers: PF Jerami Grant.  Jerami has bounced around this league year after year after year… team after team… he has improved every step of the way.  He is a cautionary tale for NBA GM’s who give up on teenagers without realizing they will one day be in their late 20’s. Both the Thunder and Detroiyt could have had this guy locked up for half the money he is about to make from the Balzers.

Thunder: Mark “who am i?.. Guess I have a lot to ponder” Daigneault

Blazers: Chauncey “y'all know who I am… and y'all impressed” Billups