Thunder vs Lakers Picks: Oklahoma City (-1½) Best Bet for November 29
- The Thunder vs Lakers betting line is almost a pick’em game.
- The Lakers need a blowout win to stay close to an NBA Cup Wild Card spot.
- Get all of NBA Friday night’s odds at BetUS sportsbook.
The Emirates NBA Cup West Group B is still up for grabs and features some heavy hitters, like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers. Out of Group B, the Thunder are the only team that hasn’t played their third game. They have the best record in the Western Conference, which could lean NBA picks to favor them to win the group or at least compete for the Wild Card spot.
In their last game, the Thunder continued to prove they are one of the best teams in the league. They beat the Golden State Warriors 105-101, extending their winning streak to three.
The Lakers ended their three-game losing streak by beating the San Antonio Spurs 119-101. Outside of the Lakers ending their losing streak, the most important thing to pay attention to was that they had a complete game with seven players scoring in double figures.
Oklahoma City is listed as a narrow favorite on the road in NBA odds.
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Thunder vs Lakers Game Information
- Game: Thunder (14-4) vs Lakers (11-7)
- Location: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- Day/Time: Friday, Nov. 29, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Raptors vs Heat Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Thunder vs Lakers Predictions: 2 Bets for Nov 29
1. Oklahoma City Thunder ATS Pick -1.5
Last season, one of the biggest strengths of the Thunder was their health. The core three players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, played at least 71 games. That led to them having the No.1 seed in the West and NBA futures odds to have faith in them having another remarkable season in 2024-25.
However, injuries have played a role in the Thunder’s season, especially in the frontcourt. Free agent signing Isaiah Hartenstein missed the first 15 games of the season. Chet Holmgren played in the first 10 games before suffering a hip injury that will keep him out for a long time. Another big, Jaylin Williams, has not played a minute this season.
Despite all that, the Thunder currently have the best record in the West. Much of that is because of Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 35 points in the win over the Warriors. But what headlined NBA news was Hartenstein making his second start of the season. Hartenstein has played in the last three games, which have all been wins.
Isaiah Hartenstein this season:
13 PTS – 14 REB – 3 AST – 4 BLK
19 PTS – 10 REB – 4 AST – 60% FG
14 PTS – 14 REB – 3 AST – 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/N0NTqQPJzt— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 28, 2024
After Holmgren got injured, the Thunder had to play five games without a starting center. This roster is built around talented wings, and their small-ball lineups are effective, but to catch opponents off guard, not as the starting five.
The Thunder went 3-2, but having Hartenstein changed everything. He was a big reason why I back the Thunder to beat the Warriors and also to cover against the Lakers. Back OKC to cover the NBA spread.
2. Thunder vs Lakers Over Pick 231.5
The Lakers are the defending champions of the NBA’s in-season tournament. Before their loss to the Phoenix Suns, the game before beating the Spurs, the Lakers had never lost a game in the in-season tournament, now named the NBA Cup. However, it does seem like the Lakers’ dominance could be over.
Per Thunder vs Lakers betting tips, Los Angeles is second with a 2-1 record In the NBA Cup Group B rankings despite a point differential of -16. The Lakers will need to beat arguably the best team in the West by a lot to turn their negative point differential into a positive, giving them a chance at the Wild Card spot.
That could lead to this game toward the over because the Lakers know they will need to put up points, having to win this game by a lot. The good thing is that the Lakers are coming off a solid offensive performance. Even though Anthony Davis and LeBron James scored less than 20 points each, they did all the other little things with 24 rebounds and 18 assists combined.
Dalton Knecht tonight:
20 PTS – 8 REB – 53% FGAnthony Davis tonight:
19 PTS – 14 REB – 7 ASTLeBron James tonight:
16 PTS – 11 AST – 10 REB pic.twitter.com/CACF0EDGxS— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 28, 2024
The result was seven players in double figures, including the whole starting lineup. Dalton Knecht led the Lakers in scoring with 20 while D’Angelo Russell added 17 points off the bench. Getting this game to hit the over in NBA predictions might be challenging, considering the Thunder have the best defensive rating in the league at 103.3.
However, the Lakers’ offensive rating is ranking fifth (116.8), which can help them push this matchup into a shootout, needing to score points.
Questions of the Day
Who is going to lead this game in points per game?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.5 points and has scored at least 30 points in five straight games. Expect him to keep carrying the Thunder offense.
Is there a player prop to pay attention to?
As a starter, Dalton Knecht averages 19.7 points in six games for LA. If he gets another start, expect him to keep putting up numbers.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
