Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets Prediction: Can the Hornets Move Closer to Securing Play-In Spot?
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets Prediction: Can the Hornets Move Closer to Securing Play-In Spot?
- When: 8:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: League Pass
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Thunder vs. Hornets Line Movement
Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
We're getting closer to the end of the season, which means we're nearing the time when we can award an NBA team with the title of Most Frustrating to Bet Against. As of now, the Thunder are far and away the leaders in the clubhouse.
By any metric, they are a betting anomaly. By either net rating or record, the NBA has a clear bottom four teams this season: the Pistons, Rockets, Magic, and Thunder. Of those, the Magic and Rockets have an under-.500 record against the spread, while the Pistons are barely above water, with a 35-31-2 mark ATS.
The Thunder, meanwhile, are in far loftier territory, with the second-best record against the spread in the NBA at 39-24-1. Given that they have the worst offense the league has seen since the Process Sixers, this would have to count as something of a surprise.
And yet, here we are, making lines like tonight - in which the Thunder are nearly a double-digit dog to the under-.500 Hornets - that much tougher to read. That being said, if it's one thing that Charlotte can do, it's score. They have the 10th best offense in the league overall and 4th best since the break. The Thunder also usually get the benefit of larger spreads than this one; this is the fourth-smallest line they've had in the last 16 games. Last but not least, OKC has fattened up their ATS record mostly on the road. At home, they're just 17-13-4 with the second-worst point differential in the league and a negative margin ATS.
The Hornets have a tough closing schedule and need this game if they want to make a push to host the likely 9/10 game against the Hawks. They won't let the opportunity slip by, and will follow up their 23-point home victory against the Thunder with another big win here.
Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick
- Hornets -9.5 (-103) (Bet $103 to Win $100)
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Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
- When: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: League Pass
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Hawks vs. Trail Blazers Line Movement
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Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
Yesterday I gave you a whole bunch of reasons to hit the Pacers hard against the Hawks, and low and behold, the game came down to the wire, with Atlanta winning but Indiana covering. The reason was simple: despite their record, the Pacers continue to play hard, and for the most part, sound basketball. The Hawks, meanwhile, have been the walking definition of mediocre - 5-4 since the break with a slightly positive point differential, and a 17-15 record since the start of the year.
Enter the Blazers, a different beast altogether. The Blazers have a negative 25.5 net rating since the break - more than 10 points per 100 possessions worse than the next lowest team (the Thunder). They had dropped six straight overall and against the spread before beating the Wizards at home behind a career-high 44 points on just 21 shots for Josh Hart. That's not the sort of thing he's likely to repeat.
The Hawks, like the Hornets, need every win they can get. Given how the Blazers haven't exactly been fighting hard to attain backdoor covers, even with a spread this large, Atlanta is the team to take. Give the points at home.
Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trail Blazers Pick
- Hawks -13.5 (-105) (Bet $105 to Win $100)