OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS – ODDS & PREDICTIONS
Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from Monday’s slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder (27-11 SU, 26-11-1 ATS) taking on the Los Angeles Lakers (20-21 SU, 17-24 ATS).
The Oklahoma City Thunder are HOT right now. The Los Angeles Lakers? Not so much. Can the Thunder continue their torrid play, or will the Lakers cool them off?
Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why. 
Tipoff
- When: Monday, January 15, 2024
- Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Crypto.com Arena
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- TV: NBA TV, SportsNet LA, and BSOK
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds (Via DraftKings)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends
Will The Thunder Steamroll A Struggling Lakers Squad?
OKC Thunder Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 122.5 PPG – 3RD
- Offensive Efficiency: 121.3 points per 100 possessions – 4TH
- Scoring Defense: 113.4 PPG – 13TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 112.2 points per 100 possessions – 5TH
The OKC Thunder enter this matchup with an 8-2 record over their last 10 outings while posting wins in each of their last four contests. This includes a 112-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
As per usual, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the main scoring cog for the Thunder. He scored 37 points, handed out seven assists, and grabbed eight rebounds.
“It’s just amazing looking back and seeing what he’s done physically,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said about Gilgeous-Alexander. “… When you look back to when he was a rookie and in his second year, third year. He’s definitely invested there and he’s done it consistently.”
Jalen Williams added 16 points and six rebounds, while Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Thunder – who have the second-best record in the Western Conference – look to continue their hot streak against a Lakers team that has had an up-and-down season.
Can The Lakers Get Back On Track Against The Thunder?
Los Angeles Lakers Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 114.1 PPG – 19TH
- Offensive Efficiency: 112.7 points per 100 possessions – 23RD
- Scoring Defense: 115.8 PPG – 16TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 114.3 points per 100 possessions – 12TH
On the other side of this matchup, the Lakers have produced just three wins across their last 10 decisions. They are also amid a two-game losing streak.
This includes a 132-125 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. D’Angelo Russell scored a team-high 39 points on 15-for-26 shooting from the floor, including a 6-for-11 effort from 3-point range.
“When our offense is going, it’s our defense that’s not. When our defense is going, it’s our offense that’s not,” Russell said, via ESPN. “I really don’t know what’s going on.”
Austin Reaves added 19 points and four rebounds. Anthony Davis finished with a triple-double that included 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. And at the defensive end of the floor, he blocked four shots.
Los Angeles is currently on the outside looking in concerning the conference playoff race. That said, this team needs to turn things around, and in a hurry.
Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let us closely examine the all-important betting trends for both sides.
The Picks
The Spread
As of right now, the Lakers are a one-point favorite. This seems a bit odd considering that LeBron James sat out the team’s loss against the Jazz and the Thunder are on a four-game winning streak.
Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season.
- The Thunder are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
- OKC is 2-5 ATS in their last seven matchups against Los Angeles.
- The Thunder are 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games against the Lakers.
- OKC is 6-1 ATS in their last seven contests against Western Conference opponents.
- The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games.
- Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games.
Based on the above trends, going with the road team to cover the spread looks like a smart choice.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder (+1)
Over/Under
The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 237 points. At this time of this writing, the line has moved slightly to 238 points (via pre-game.com). Here is why going with the “OVER” is the smart choice here.
- The total has gone OVER five times in the Thunder’s last seven games.
- The OVER total has cashed in four times in OKC’s last five road games.
- In the Thunder’s last five games against Pacific Division opponents, the OVER total won all five times.
- The total has gone OVER 12 times in the Lakers’ last 17 games.
- The OVER total cashed in four times in the Lakers’ last five matchups against OKC.
- In the Lakers’ last five games against Northwest Division teams, the OVER total prevailed four times.
Prediction: OVER 238 points
Prop Bet
The key player to watch in this matchup is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He currently has -145 odds of scoring more than 31.5 points and +114 odds of finishing with less than 31.5 points. Let us look to see if his numbers favorably compare with the projected point total for this matchup.
- On the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.5 points per outing,
- In 17 road games, he is averaging 31.9 PPG.
- Gilgeous-Alexander has played against Western Conference teams 22 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 30.3 points per outing.
- In seven January games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 33.0 PPG.
- Over his last 10 outings, he is averaging 33.1 points per outing, exceeding the projected points total for this matchup seven times during that stretch.
Based on his recent body of work, going with the “over” for Gilgeous-Alexander is the better choice here.
Prediction: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 31.5 points
James’s Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers Picks
- The Spread: OKC Thunder (+1)
- Over/Under: Over 238 points
- Player Prop Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 31.5 points
