The Oklahoma City Thunder (16-21) will look to tame the visiting New York Knicks (19-19) on Saturday to boost their push for a playoff berth. Now, in 11th place in the loaded Western Conference, Oklahoma City will look to extend its modest two-game winning streak against New York on Saturday afternoon. The Knicks are sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and looking to stay in the playoff mix with a handful of conference rivals hot on their heels.
Is blossoming Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in for another big game following some recent eye-opening performances? Will the Knicks and their league-leading defense put the clamps on SGA to get the confidence-boosting road win?
Point-blank, this meeting of mid-level playoff hopefuls looks like a thriller just waiting to happen.
With both teams covering the NBA sportsbook betting odds at a high rate, let’s find out if Oklahoma City can take care of business at home.
The NBA Odds for this Saturday afternoon affair will be value-packed when they go live following Friday night’s full slate of action.
New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
TV: NBATV, Fox Sports Oklahoma, MSG
Radio: WFAN 97.1 FM The Ticket
Knicks Looking to Bounce Back From Embarrassing Loss
New York had won four of five heading into Thursday night’s road date against Milwaukee. Unfortunately, the Knicks never showed up in their embarrassing 134-101 loss.
The Knicks never came close to covering the spread as an 11-point underdog by allowing two-time reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to record a triple-double in the loss. RJ Barrett scored a team-high 22 points. Veteran shooting guard Alec Burks added 17 points, and rookie point guard Immanuel Quickley added 15 for the Knicks. All-star power forward Julius Randle was limited to a paltry seven points on 3 of 12 shooting.
“We didn’t take care of the transition,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We didn’t take care of the paint. We didn’t take care of covering the line. And then we didn’t finish our defense with rebounding well. They pretty much got everything that they wanted.”
New York ranks a dismal 29th in scoring (104.8 ppg), but leads the NBA in fewest points allowed (105.2 ppg). The Knicks have gone 8-12 on the road this season.
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SGA, Hot Thunder, Look to Extend Winning Ways
Oklahoma City has won two straight and four of its last six games overall. The Thunder man-handled Dallas on Thursday night to record a convincing 116-108 home win on Thursday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 32 points and came up big late to lead Oklahoma City to the win.
“He made it look so easy,” veteran Al Horford said. “His shot-making ability and poise continue to impress me. We needed those buckets, and he took us home.”
Find out which teams are consistently covering the ATS betting odds and which ones are not.
Horford added 21 points on 4 for 5 shooting from three-point distance and all five starters scored in double figures for Oklahoma City.
“We were sharp early and I give our guys credit with how they handled themselves during the break,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They were ready to play from the jump.”
Oklahoma City ranks an uninspiring 27th in scoring (106.2 ppg), but a solid 12th in points allowed (111.3 ppg). The Thunder have gone 7-11 at Chesapeake Energy Arena this season.
Analysis and Prediction
The Knicks have 1-2 ATS over its last three games while Oklahoma City has gone 4-2 ATS over its last six games. The Thunder have won four straight and six seven in this rivalry.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 65 points over Oklahoma City’s last two games while scoring 24 points or more in six of the Thunder’s last eight games overall. Oklahoma City has gone 4-0 ATS over its last four games and 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
Oklahoma City has the edge in scoring and the Thunder are playing at home. This matchup looks like it could come down to the final possession or two. In the end, I like the red-hot Thunder to get it done.
Pick: Thunder 111 Knicks 105
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