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Carrie Stroup here with a great NBA game on tap for March 1. The Thunder-Magic spread was coming in at Oklahoma City -1.5. You can find all the latest NBA betting odds at Sportsbook.com. Be sure to claim up to $250 in FREE CASH when you join (based on initial deposit with a minimum of $20). As always, your bonus code is CARRIE STROUP.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Oklahoma City -1.5 & 192.5
Opening Line & Total: Thunder -2 & 192.5
Oklahoma City looks for the franchise’s first-ever win in Orlando when it takes on the Magic Thursday night.
The Thunder have lost seven in row (2-5 ATS) in Orlando, including the past four by 23, 14, 9 and 27 points. In last year's meeting at Amway Center (111-88 Magic win), Dwight Howard had 40 points and 15 boards, while Kevin Durant shot a woeful 7-of-22 from the floor. Both teams had tough wins Wednesday, but the Magic are 8-5 (SU and ATS) with zero days rest this season, holding these teams to just 88.0 PPG. Oklahoma City is a subpar 5-7 ATS with no rest, surrendering 97.1 PPG
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant is playing as well as anybody in the NBA (27.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG), but he’s never enjoyed suiting up in central Florida. Durant has a lower scoring average in Orlando than he does in any other city. In four career games at Amway Center, Durant has scored only 15.3 PPG on an anemic 30.8% FG (3-of-14 threes). Durant also had an off-night in Wednesday’s 92-88 win at Philadelphia, making just 7-of-18 shots (23 points) and grabbing only four rebounds. Russell Westbrook (23.5 PPG, 5.5 APG) missed 13 shots (7-of-20 FG) and committed seven turnovers versus Philadelphia, but he also tallied 13 boards. Like Durant, Westbrook has not shot the ball well when facing the Magic in his career, scoring 17.6 PPG on just 37.7% FG in seven meetings. Despite the offensive struggles of their two best players, the Thunder played great defense in Philly, allowing just one field goal in the final 5:32. In the past nine games overall, Oklahoma City is allowing just 93.7 PPG on 41.4% FG.
Orlando was 11-4 (9-6 ATS) in its 15 February games, holding nine of these opponents to 90 points or less. Although the Magic failed to cover the spread in Wednesday’s 102-95 win in Washington, the offense was very efficient as seven players scored 11+ points. Ryan Anderson (16.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG) was the only Orlando player above 15, as he dumped in 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Anderson’s shooting woes continued though with his fifth straight game of less than 43% from the floor, connecting on just 36.8% FG during this stretch. Anderson, who leads the NBA in three-pointers made (103) and attempted (238), had a team-high 25 points in a 97-89 season-opening loss at Oklahoma City. Dwight Howard notched his 29th double-double (2nd in NBA behind Kevin Love’s 30) on Wednesday with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Despite the ongoing trade rumors involving Howard, he has been able to post a season-high run of seven straight double-doubles (18.4 PPG, 15.1 RPG).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
