Thunder vs. Bulls Betting Odds From Sportsbook.ag
Carrie Stroup here with your Thunder vs. Bulls betting odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (34-27) at CHICAGO BULLS (38-23)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Oklahoma City -1, Total:
The Oklahoma City Thunder hit the road to take on the injury-riddled Chicago Bulls this Thursday night.
The Thunder played the past six games without SF Kevin Durant and have still managed to play some great basketball behind the leadership of PG Russell Westbrook as they are 9-2 both SU and ATS since Feb. 8. The offense has been very impressive in that time, scoring in triple-digits each time as they averaged an amazing 114.0 PPG. The team hosted the 76ers most recently and nearly took an upset defeat as they were 15-point favorites and walked away with a 123-118 overtime win. The defense held Philadelphia to a meager 35.4% shooting in the victory as Oklahoma City’s bench added 62 points.
The Bulls have been hit with numerous big injuries in the past week and are 4-3 SU (3-4 ATS) over the past seven games. The defense has stepped up in that time, allowing opponents to score a mere 93.3 PPG as the offense has hit triple-digits just once. Chicago put together a solid effort against Washington in its last game, winning by a score of 97-92 as 1.5-point underdogs on its home-court. They overcame 16 turnovers in the game by holding the Wizards to a mere 35-of-84 shooting (41.7% FG) and were able to grab eight more rebounds.
As an away team, the Thunder have not played too well with a record of 14-19 SU (13-19-1 ATS) and they will be going up against a Bulls team which is 19-13 SU (13-19 ATS) in the Windy City. These clubs have not faced-off since last year when Oklahoma City took both games SU (1-1 ATS), winning by an average of 12.0 PPG and holding Chicago under 38% shooting as a team in each contest. The Thunder have won the past five meetings with this opponent and are a tremendous 12-5 SU (13-4 ATS) when playing on the road since 1996.
Some trends to watch in this game include that Oklahoma City is 66-48 ATS (58%) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 over the last three seasons while the Bulls have put together a 72-45 ATS record (62%) after two straight games where they had five or fewer steals since 1996. There are tons of injuries to be aware of when looking into this contest as SF Kevin Durant (Foot) is out indefinitely and C Steven Adams (Hand) is questionable for the Thunder. On the other side of the ball, the trio of PG Derrick Rose (Knee), SG Jimmy Butler (Elbow) and PF Taj Gibson (Ankle) will all be absent.
The Thunder have seen their offensive output increase of late and as a result are ranked 10th in the league with 102.1 PPG on 44.4% shooting. They remain quite average defensively and have allowed opponents to score 99.4 PPG this year behind 42.7% shooting (2nd in league).
PG Russell Westbrook (26.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 6.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG) has been unstoppable of late with four straight triple-doubles coming into this game in which he has averaged 37.0 PPG (41% FG), 13.5 RPG, 10.5 APG and 2.0 SPG. In his two games against Chicago last year, Westbrook managed 18.5 PPG (46% FG), 9.5 APG and 5.5 RPG.
C Enes Kanter (14.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG) has made a clear impact since joining the team and scored 15.8 PPG (58% FG) to go with 10.2 RPG in his first five games with the Thunder. He was 9-for-13 with 19 points, eight rebounds, a block and a steal when he met the Bulls earlier this season as a member of the Jazz.
PF Serge Ibaka (14.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 BPG) fouled out against Philadelphia after getting a meager two points and two rebounds in 31 minutes on the floor. He didn’t do much against this Chicago team last year with 10.0 PPG (53% FG), 3.5 RPG and 2.5 BPG.
The Bulls have done much better on offense this year with 101.2 PPG (12th in league) on 44% shooting (10th-worst in league). Without two of their bigger stars in the lineup that number will likely decrease and over the past seven games they are putting up a mere 93.6 PPG. The defense has continued to be solid and the unit is giving up 98.4 PPG (11th in league) with opponents making 44.1% of their shots (11th in league).
PF Pau Gasol (18.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG) followed up his abysmal performance against the Clippers (4 points, 15 rebounds) with a nice double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) in the win over the Wizards on Tuesday. He saw the Thunder three times last year and averaged 16.0 PPG (49% FG), 8.0 RPG and 1.0 BPG.
C Joakim Noah (7.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG) has put up some nice stats (12.7 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 6.3 APG) in the past three games and is coming off a tremendous all-around effort against the Wizards when he netted 14 points to go with 12 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. His two games against this opponent last year went well with him scoring 16.0 PPG (40% FG) to go along with 12.0 RPG, 6.0 APG and 2.0 SPG.
PF Nikola Mirotic (7.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG) is getting plenty of run with all the injuries building up and has played over 30 minutes in each of the past two games, going for 26.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 1.0 BPG. The rookie has yet to meet this opponent in his career.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
