The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder remains the team to beat this season. However, gamblers discovered that the Thunder is beatable. Oklahoma City suffered just its second NBA betting loss of the season in its NBA Cup semifinal loss to the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio was a 10-point underdog but prevailed 111-109 in a stunning upset. Perhaps Oklahoma City let its guard down, but it was a valuable lesson to OKC and gamblers about NBA parity.
Correlate that the Thunder will return to action on December 18 at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. Following that is a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 19. Late on, the Clippers are in a collapse that has assured a lost season. The Kawhi Leonard acquisition of 2019 failed to lift the franchise as promised. While the Minnesota Timberwolves are a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, but are drowning gamblers in red ink.
Thunder Struck
At the beginning of the week, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a sports betting record of 24-2 straight up, 14-12 against the spread, and 14-12 over the total. However, the Thunder covered the spread in four of its previous five games. OKC went under the total in two of their most recent seven games. Consider that Oklahoma City has the most impressive metrics in the Association. The Thunder ranks 3rd for scoring offense and 1st for the fewest points allowed. Oklahoma City ranks 1st in the NBA for defending field goal attempts.
Of course, the Thunder boasts one of the great NBA betting assets in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The University of Kentucky product was the 2025 NBA MVP and 2025 Finals MVP. Additionally, he made the All-NBA First Team for the past three seasons. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.4 points per game.
Minnesota Timberwolves Lose While Winning
At the onset of the week, the Minnesota Timberwolves held the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference. The 6-spot is critical because it is the final automatic bid spot, allowing a team to avoid the dreaded, annoying play-in round. Despite its solid straight-up results, the Wolves have not provided reliable betting value. To illuminate, Minnesota is 16-9 straight up, 9-16 against the spread, and 13-12 over the total. Minnesota ranks 7th for scoring offense and 10th for fewest points allowed. Late on, the Wolves covered the spread in only two of their previous six games,
Anthony Edwards leads Minnesota with 28.7 points per game. Previously, Edwards was the first overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Georgia. He is a 2-time All-NBA Second Team selection over the past two seasons and was named to the 2021 All-Rookie First Team. Of great concern is that Edwards is a game-time decision because of a foot injury.
Additionally, Julius Randle adds 23.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest. Randle was the 7th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Kentucky by the Los Angeles Lakers. Last year, Randle arrived at the Wolves from the New York Knicks.
Minnesota will host the Memphis Grizzlies on December 17. Next is a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 19. Following that is a December 21 home game against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks.
New Orleans Pelicans Flop on the Floor But Show a Profit
One of the best examples of sports betting value to study is the New Orleans Pelicans. To illustrate, the Pels are 4-22 straight up but 14-10-2 against the spread. New Orleans is a Wise Guy player’s delight because the casual sector won’t touch them. Thus, oddsmakers must sweeten the pot and increase the price to draw betting action towards the Pelicans. However, the sustainability of such a bad team continuing to make money is a legitimate question. New Orleans covered the spread in only two of their last eight games.
Zion Williamson remains in the conversation as the biggest draft bust in pro sports history. So far this year, Williamson has played in only ten of the first 26 games on the New Orleans schedule. As usual, he is on a game-time decision status.