When Billy Donovan left the security of coaching college basketball’s Florida Gators for the grueling life of the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder, many questioned his sanity, but Donovan has proven to be a competent NBA head coach. The combination of Donovan and point guard Russell Westbrook may prove to make the Oklahoma City Thunder an offshore bookmaker asset in the post season. The Denver Nuggets have been something of a surprise team in the NBA as they have a precarious hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Denver hosts Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
Date and Time: Thursday, February 1, 2018, 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
NBA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
Thunder -1 (-110) 216½ (-110)
Nuggets +1 (-110) 216½ (-110)
Thunder vs. Nuggets TV Coverage: TNT
Denver
The Denver Nuggets have struggled to maintain offshore bookmaker betting value lately with just two payouts in their last nine games. The under has hit in seven out of Denver’s last ten games. In their last two games the Nuggets lost at home to Boston 111-110 and then at San Antonio 106-104. The Pepsi Center has been decent to the Nuggets and their betting value. On their home court the Nuggets have a record of 13-12-1 against the spread. The under has hit in 16 out of Denver’s 26 home games. Head coach Michael Malone’s Nuggets are barely holding on to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Mediocre ratings of 12th in the NBA for scoring offense and 15th for scoring defense illustrate the Nuggets team challenges.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing their best basketball of the season. In their last nine games the Thunder have won eight straight up with six payouts. The over has hit in five out of the last six games for OKC. An eight game OKC winning streak was snapped in a 102-96 loss at the Washington Wizards. Billy Donovan’s Thunder wins with a strong defense that ranks fourth best in the NBA. Russell Westbrook is having a monster season for the Thunder. The 2017 NBA Most Valuable player has a team best 25.5 points, 10.1 assists, and 9.4 rebounds per game. Westbrook was held to 13 points in the loss at Washington.
Team vs Team
NBA handicappers would be surprised to discover that the Nuggets have the sports betting edge in this head to head series with OKC. Denver has covered the spread in their last three games against the Thunder. The under has hit in the last four meetings between the Nuggets and Thunder. But that is countered by the fact that at the Pepsi Center OKC has paid out in three of their last four games against the Nuggets. The last two meetings between the Thunder and Nuggets at Denver have gone under the total.
Matchup to Watch
With Russell Westbrook, the Thunder bring the best player on the floor to this offshore bookmaker matchup and add to the fact that the Thunder have proven betting value at Denver, and OKC makes for an attractive choice.
Thunder vs. Nuggets NBA games Betting Odds Picks
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the pick based on head to head numbers and because they have Russell Westbrook.
NBA Betting Online Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA Betting Online Score Prediction: Thunder 107, Nuggets 99
Check out All Star Russell Westbrook’s best highlights of the season!