The Oklahoma City Thunder has used a hot streak to solidify itself in the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference, but staying hot won’t be easy next time out. The Thunder must travel to Boston to take on a talented Celtics team.
Even though Boston hasn’t put everything together this year, it still has a strong squad and will benefit from the home court advantage. Oklahoma City may have the superior record but it figures to be the underdog on the road.
The Celtics and Thunder are both jockeying for playoff positioning in their respective conferences so this is an important game for both teams in NBA wagering.
This NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics will be held at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 3rd, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Thunder has won six consecutive games to move to 32-18 on the season. Oklahoma City had a lull immediately before this and needs to keep piling up victories because there are many teams right on its heels in the West. The Thunder has been pretty good on the road with a 15-11 record, and a win in this one would be a big help.
The Celtics have a mark of 31-19 on the year. Boston has an impressive point-differential but has lost more than its share of close games. There is a dominant team lurking underneath the surface but the Celtics need it to appear soon or else be forced to go through a tough road in the playoffs. Boston has been an excellent home team this year with a 20-6 record.
Matchup To Watch
Russell Westbrook vs. Kyrie Irving -- Two of the best point guards in the NBA will face off provided Irving is sufficiently recovered from a hip injury that has kept him out the past two games.
Westbrook and Irving go about their success in different ways. Westbrook is a super athletic pinball who can careen through the lane for his points. He is averaging a triple-double this season but is only shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range. The Celtics will undoubtedly try to keep him on the perimeter and make him take jumpshots.
Irving may not have the same type of burst but he is a polished offensive player. He is averaging 23.7 points and 6.9 assists per game. Irving is much more efficient than Westbrook, shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three-point range. Make sure Irving is good to go, because his absence could really shift the odds.
Key Stat
3. That’s how many times Oklahoma City forward Paul George has scored 36 points or more in his past four outings. George took a backseat to Westbrook last season but has really upped his game in his second year with the Thunder.
While Westbrook is struggling on offense this season, George has picked up the slack, averaging 27.3 points per game and adding 8.0 rebounds. Boston must keep a close eye on him, because another scoring outburst could doom the Celtics.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Boston’s record isn’t quite as good, but if Irving plays the Celtics have the better team. Add in the home court advantage and they should be the favorite. George and Westbrook are a fantastic duo but Boston’s defense may give them problems.
The Celtics should win this one, with the margin being bigger than most would expect in NBA gambling. The “under” is the right call on the scoring total.
NBA ATS Pick: Boston Celtics 107, Oklahoma City Thunder 101
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