NBA Betting Odds December 12 – Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans
Don’t look now, but the team with the best record in the Western Conference is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the advantage by a single percentage point over the defending champion Warriors.
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And it certainly is unexpected after OKC started the year with four straight defeats. It took some time for Russell Westbrook to heal from his offseason medical procedure and an ankle injury, but it looks as though he’s feeling just fine, thank you. The triple-double machine is operating at a high level with six in the last nine outings and three in a row. Westbrook goes for another against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans on ESPN Wednesday.
Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Opening NBA Odds: Thunder -1.5, O/U 232
Thunder at Pelicans TV Coverage: ESPN
Odds Analysis
If they aren’t the hottest team in the NBA they sure are close. Since starting the year with four straight losses, the Thunder are 17-4 and they’ve won five of their last six outings while going 4-2 against the spread. OKC has taken care of business against teams below .500, posting a 14-1 record, which includes an earlier victory over the Pelicans when they were 4-5. And New Orleans is back under .500 at 14-15 following a loss to the Celtics. The Pels have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games.
Recently
Even the good teams hit a pothole every now and then. It’s how they respond that sets them apart from the rest of the league. The Thunder hit a big one the other day, losing 114-112 to the lowly Bulls in Chicago when Paul George misfired on a potential game-winning three-pointer. The loss ended a four-game winning streak that was extended by a dramatic comeback victory in Brooklyn.
OKC made up a 23-point deficit, outscoring the Nets by 20 in the fourth quarter. That time George was the hero with the final three points of his season-high 47 providing the margin of victory. Following their loss to the Bulls, OKC returned home and got a slight measure of revenge against the Jazz, the team that knocked them out of last season’s playoffs, with PG13 going for 31. Westbrook collected his third straight triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, but the shooting woes for the former MVP continue. He’s deferred to George, who has responded by scoring over 32 points per game in the last three outings.
And you can expect George to continue putting up the offensive numbers since his production gives the Thunder an added dimension, and you can play the over on his point total on a prop bet at BookMaker.eu.
The Pels have been consistently inconsistent over the last two weeks, alternating wins and losses. The good news is that recent form has them in line for win after they were defeated in Boston on Monday. The bad news is that their lack of depth could prohibit them from doing that. Nikola Mirotic won’t play, further depleting a bench that hasn’t done much to help the team. New Orleans reserves were outscored by 20 points against Boston and by a whopping 42 points a few games ago in Memphis. Both of those were losses.
Without much production from the bench, starters like Davis and Jrue Holiday play extended minutes, and that results in inflated stat lines. Davis dropped 41 on Boston in the 113-100 loss and the Brow should be played on the live betting lines at BookMaker.eu.
Last Meeting
The stars showed up, but both teams got strong efforts from their complementary players when the teams met in early November. The Thunder pulled out the home win 122-116 with George leading six players in double figures with 23. Julius Randle had a game hitting all 10 field goals leading five Pels in double figures with 26 points. The teams easily cashed the over and given New Orleans defensive inadequacies, that should be attainable on Wednesday night.
Thunder at Pelicans Live Betting
Give the edge to OKC’s bench in this one, so when the teams start swapping out players play the Thunder on the live betting lines. The X-factor for the Pels is Randle, who is having a career year now that he’s freed from the shackles of the Lakers. We know AD and Holiday will score, and so do the Thunder. So, look for Randle to quietly put together a strong game, and play a prop on the over for his point total at BookMaker.eu.
NBA ATS Pick: Thunder 118, Pelicans 112
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