Lakers-Thunder spread for February 23 at Oklahoma City -6.5
Carrie Stroup here for Gambling911.com with the Lakers-Thunder spread for February 23, 2012. Get all the latest NBA lines at Sportsbook.com here and claim up to $250 FREE CASH based on your initial deposit.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Oklahoma City -6.5 & 195.5
Opening Line & Total: Thunder -6.5 & 193
Two red-hot teams try to close the first half of the season on a high note Thursday when the Lakers (5-1 in past six games) visit an Oklahoma City team seeking its 12th straight home win and fifth straight victory overall.
Both clubs are playing their fourth game in five nights, but the Thunder have been home for a full week while L.A. will play in its fourth different city in this five-night span. This has not proven to be a good scenario for the Lakers, as they are just 12-25 ATS (32%) when playing 6+ games in 10 days over the past two seasons. They are just 4-7 ATS with zero days rest, and have the same 4-7 ATS mark as a road underdog this season. Los Angeles will not likely have the legs to keep up with Oklahoma City’s offense that has averaged 109.2 PPG on 49% FG in its past 10 games.
The Lakers have been a horrible road team this season at 6-11 (5-12 ATS), scoring just 90.9 PPG on 42.9% FG (27.7% 3-pt FG) away from Staples Center. But the team was able to overcome a rare off night for Kobe Bryant (4-of-15 FG, 5-of-9 FT, 7 TO) and win 96-91 in Dallas on Wednesday. Pau Gasol had 24 points and nine rebounds, while Andrew Bynum tallied another double-double with 19 points and 14 boards. Gasol, who has been the subject of trade rumors, has been sizzling in his past 10 games with 18.4 PPG and 12.7 RPG. But he hasn’t enjoyed playing in Oklahoma City, scoring just 13.8 PPG on 44.7% FG in four career games in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City is averaging 107.9 PPG on 51% FG during its 11-game home win streak, and the offense got a huge boost with the return of super-sub James Harden on Wednesday. Harden had 17 points (6-of-10 FG) and seven assists in the Thunder’s 119-104 thrashing of Boston on Wednesday after missing Monday’s win over New Orleans because of an ankle injury. Kevin Durant has been tremendous all season, but he has really heated up over his past five games with 33.2 PPG on 54% FG and 15-of-27 threes. He has had little trouble scoring against the Lakers as well. In the past three seasons, Durant is averaging 26.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 3.4 APG in 10 regular-season games against Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook is also having a huge season, and he poured in a game-high 31 points in Wednesday’s win over Boston. Westbrook now has 34.0 PPG (51% FG) and 6.3 APG in his past three contests. He also played extremely well against the Lakers last year with 26.7 PPG, 8.3 APG and 5.7 RPG in the three meetings.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
