NBA Basketball
2012-04-24 - Sacramento Kings at Oklahoma City
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Tuesday 24 April 2012 - Tip Off 8pm ET
1am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder (46-18) have been locked into the Number 2 seed in the Western Conference, but they will want to pick up some momentum going into the Play Offs later this week as they complete their final two games in the regular season.
They face the Sacramento Kings (21-43) who could be missing a big piece of their team as DeMarcus Cousins is due to start a one game suspension. Cousins has appealed to the NBA, but it seems unlikely that they will overturn it after he received his 13th technical of the season.
Sacramento beat the hapless Charlotte Bobcats in their last game, but could very much be looking ahead to potentially their final home game in Sacramento on Thursday when they take on the LA Lakers. There is still no movement on whether the team will still be playing here next season as the City has refused to provide an agreement for a new Arena and there are rumours that more than one other City is interested in taking the franchise on.
Oklahoma City lost their last game at the LA Lakers, a game that was overshadowed by a vicious elbow from Metta World Peace on James Harden. The 6th man of the season looks set to sit for the final two games of the season and it does spice up a potential Western Conference Semi Final meeting between the Lakers and the Thunder.
With the Thunder locked in to the Number 2 seed, there are suggestions that they could rest players for the Play Offs, but Kevin Durant is still fighting for the Scoring Title, so I expect both him and Russell Westbrook to play in this one and perhaps rest tomorrow night against the Denver Nuggets, a potential First Round opponent.
Head to Head
Oklahoma City now lead the season series 2-1 after beating the Kings on the road last week.
They beat Sacramento by 16 points here in the only game played in this Arena this season, and are now 3-0 against the spread in the last 3 home games in the series.
Oklahoma City are 17-14 against the spread at home this season, Sacramento are 14-18 on the road.
Oklahoma City are 31-27 against the spread as the favourite, Sacramento are 22-29 as the underdog.
Other Interesting Trends
Oklahoma City are 7-1 against the spread in their last 8 games against teams with losing records.
Sacramento are 1-12 against the spread in their last 13 games as the underdog.
They have lost their last 7 games against the spread when playing a team that has won at least 60% of their games this season.
Prediction
I am going to back the Oklahoma City Thunder to bounce back from their defeat to the LA Lakers and win this game and cover the spread for the following reasons:
First, Oklahoma City have dominated the recent games in the series in this Arena, covering the spread the last 3 times and winning each game by double-digits.
Second, the Thunder are 12-3 against the spread when they have lost their last game as the favourite.
Third, the Kings have struggled when playing the better teams in the NBA, and they are just 3-10 against the spread in this situation in the second half of the season.
Fourth, Sacramento are just 2-10 against the spread in April, with one of those wins coming against the awful Charlotte Bobcats.
The Pick :
Oklahoma City 110-97 Sacramento Kings
