The Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers are in the thick of their conference races, and things are tight enough in both that a game or two could mean a huge difference at the end of the year. These two teams are matching up in a showdown this week that may have big ramifications. Each side fancies itself a legitimate championship contender and it will be a confidence boost for the one that comes away with this victory.
Oklahoma City has looked like a slightly better team this year but it will likely be a slight underdog since the 76ers are at home. Philadelphia flexed its muscle in a blowout win over the T-Wolves earlier this week and reminded the public what it can do when things are clicking.
This game will have a lot of star power, with Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Paul George facing off against Philly’s Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler in NBA wagering.
This NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 19th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
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Odds Analysis
The Thunder has a record of 26-17 on the record. Oklahoma City is the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and while catching the Warriors seems unrealistic, surpassing the Nuggets for the second spot should be the goal the rest of the way. The Thunder has gone 12-11 on the road this year.
The 76ers have a mark of 29-16 on the year, but their point-differential is significantly lower than Oklahoma City’s, which actually means the Thunder has been the better team. The home court advantage is huge. The 76ers are 19-4 at home and thus will be favored to win this matchup.
Look for a high scoring total as this one could be a shootout in NBA gambling.
Scheduling Situation
The 76ers have outplayed their record thus far, but the rubber will hit the road in the next few weeks as they have a challenging schedule. This tough matchup against the Thunder will begin it, followed by games against the Rockets, Spurs and Nuggets. At the end of this month there is a road game against the Lakers, which could be tough if LeBron James is back on the court.
Other hard games within the next calendar month include a road matchup against the Warriors as well as home games against the Raptors, Nuggets and Celtics. Philly is right near the top of the East but a lull in this tough stretch could make it hard for the 76ers to have more than one round of home court advantage in the postseason.
Injury Report
Oklahoma City forward Nerlens Noel has missed the past four games and remains in the concussion protocol after a fall a couple weeks ago. It seems unlikely he plays in this one, but check back before the game.
Noel is averaging 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds on the season. There was a recent update on Oklahoma City guard Andre Roberson, who hasn’t played for more than a year since rupturing his patellar tendon. He is not expected back on the court any time soon and hopefully Roberson can get back to form when he does finally get healthy enough to play.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Thunder has been a solid team all season and may be the second-best team in the West by the end of the year. While this should be a good game, the location is huge. The 76ers have been a dominant team at home and they are the choice to capture this matchup.
Keep an eye on where the spread checks in because both sides could be considered. The scoring total is also something to watch in a matchup like this in NBA odds.
NBA ATS Pick: Philadelphia 76ers 118, Oklahoma City Thunder 114
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