Thunder vs. Lakers Line March 29, 2012

Carrie Stroup here with your Thunder vs. Lakers line, which was coming in as a PICK'EM (even odds).  You can find all the latest NBA betting odds at Sportsbook.com here – offering up to $250 in FREE CASH based on an initial deposit. 

Sportsbook.com Line & Total: OKC -1 & 200

Opening Line & Total: Pick ‘em & 201

The Thunder look to continue their dominating recent run when they visit the Lakers on Thursday.

Over the past week, Oklahoma City may have established itself as the best team in the NBA. They hammered the Clippers at home two Wednesdays ago, beat the Timberwolves in a wild one, handed Miami its worst loss of the season, then went to Portland and put the Blazers away with ease. The Lakers, meanwhile, have failed to cover in their past five home games, including a SU loss to Memphis on Sunday. 

These teams faced off a little more than a month ago in Oklahoma City, with the Thunder winning 100-85. SF Kevin Durant (27.8 PPG on 50.2% FG) led the way in that game with 33 points on 12-for-22 FG. He had 31 on 11-for-15 shooting against the Lakers when the Thunder beat them in L.A. last April. The Oklahoma City defense also effectively limited SG Kobe Bryant (28.3 PPG), who had 24 points but needed 24 shots to get them, and C Andrew Bynum (18.2 PPG on 57.9% FG, 12.2 RPG), who had 14 on just 5-for-15 shooting.

The Thunder have been dominant offensively over their past 12 games, averaging 109.5 PPG while shooting 50.4% FG and 39.6% from three. PG Russell Westbrook (24.2 PPG) is averaging 25.9 PPG on 49.3% FG in 15 games so far this month. Durant is averaging 27.2 PPG and shooting 51.4% FG over his past 10 games. Sixth man James Harden (17.3 PPG, 49.8% FG) has rarely missed over the past three games, averaging 21.7 PPG while shooting 71.0% FG and 54.5% from three.

The Lakers have been inconsistent as late. After winning convincingly at Dallas last Wednesday, they played an uncomfortably close home game against Portland on Friday, lost at home to Memphis on Sunday, then snuck by the Warriors in Oakland on Tuesday. They’re slipping a bit defensively, allowing 100.7 PPG and 46.0% FG over the past 12 games, which is much more than the season defensive averages of 93.6 PPG and 42.8% FG.

Bryant is going through a bit of a rough patch shooting the basketball. He’s averaging 27.1 PPG, but is making only 39.1% of his shots over those 12 games. PF Pau Gasol (16.8 PPG on 50.7% FG, 10.6 RPG) has picked up some of the slack on the boards over the past three games, but while he grabbed 15.7 RPG he averaged just 15.0 PPG and shot 37.8% FG. Bynum had a tough night in Oakland, scoring 11 points and shooting 4-for-13 from the field. He was benched in the final nine minutes after missing a three-point attempt in the third quarter. But overall, Bynum has been a monster in March, averaging 22.3 PPG on 63.5% FG and 10.9 RPG over 15 games.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter