NBA Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 01-17-2019, 21:30 EDT

Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -10

Total: +227

In this all-Western showdown between two teams sitting in and out of the playoff places of the conference, the ninth Los Angeles Lakers, who want to turn their latest victory into a streak, are visiting the third Oklahoma City Thunder, who on the other hand are looking to bounce back after their latest defeat.

Lakers are 24-21 so far in the league and are tied with Sacramento on the ninth place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 2-game losing skid with a home victory against Chicago, 107-100. Thunder are 26-17 so far in the leage and are sitting on the 3^rd place of the Western Conference. They are 1-4 in their last 5 matches and in their last game they got defeated by Atlanta on the road, 126-142.

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LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 27.3 ppg. He also leads the team both in assists with 7.1 and rebounding with 8.3 per game but he is sidelined with an injury. Kyle Kuzma follows with 18.7 ppg, adding 6 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 16.4 ppg and 4.9 rebounds. Oklahoma City are led in scoring by Paul George with 26.6 ppg. He also adds 8.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, while Russell Westbrook follows with 21.7 ppg and leads the team both in assists with 10.6 and in rebounding with 10.7 per game. Dennis Schroder adds 15.4 ppg and 4.5 assists.

This will be the second meeting between those two teams this season with Oklahoma having won the previous one on the road by 7 points. Oklahoma City are 14-6 at home, while LA are 9-12 on the road. LA have better offense with 113.1 ppg to Oklahoma’s 111.3, while Oklahoma have a better defense, allowing 108.2 ppg to LA’s 110.4 ppg. LA have a better accuracy both from the field (47% to 45.7%) and from behind the arc (33.4% to 32.8%). Oklahoma on the other hand grab more rebounds (48.3 to 47.1) and commit fewer turnovers per game (14.1 to 15.2). while LA dish more assists (24.2 to 22.6). Lakers without LeBron don’t pose a threat in Oklahoma, so pick the Thunder in this one.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -10 (-109)