Memphis at Oklahoma City Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Tuesday,January 10, 2017 9:19, EDT in

It’s a potential playoff preview in the Western Conference on Wednesday night as Memphis looks to slow the triple-double express that is Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are slight home favorites on NBA odds.

Memphis at Oklahoma City Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info

When: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8 PM ET
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Memphis / Oklahoma City
NBA Odds: TBA

Why Bet on Memphis?

The Grizzlies will be well rested as they have been off since beating Utah 88-79 on Sunday to improve to 24-16. Marc Gasol scored 17 points, and Zach Randolph finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis. Mike Conley had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Memphis held Utah to just 35 points in the first half but saw the Jazz come within two points (51‐49) with 4:45 left in the third quarter. However, the Grizzlies closed the period on a 10‐1 run, punctuated by consecutive threes from Troy Daniels and Vince Carter in the final 4.4 seconds, to lead by 12 points (63‐51) heading into the fourth quarter. Aside from a three‐pointer by Rodney Hood, neither team scored in the first 3:12 of the fourth quarter, but Memphis scored the next eight points afterward to lead by 17 (71‐54) with 7:49 left in the game.

Memphis had nine 3-pointers, snapping a string of five straight games where they recorded at least 10 baskets outside the arc. The Grizzlies are making 9.0 threes per game this season after making just 4.8 per game over the past six seasons combined. The Grizzlies held the Jazz to 38.9 percent shooting and scored 26 points off 18 Utah turnovers to take a 2‐1 lead in the season series.

Memphis big man Brandan Wright (left ankle) has started full-speed individual workouts and hopes to make his season debut in January. Wright had a procedure to remove damaged tissue on his left ankle, which has prevented him from making his season debut.

Memphis owns a 14‐2 record this season in “super‐clutch” games, defined as contests in which the score is within a margin of three points in the final minute of regulation or overtime. The Grizzlies have a plus‐minus rating of +28 in 20 total minutes in these situations. The Grizzlies have played more games decided by five or fewer points (12) than any other NBA team this season and have won all but two.

Why Bet on Oklahoma City?

The Thunder won a third straight home game on Saturday night after defeating the Denver Nuggets by a 121-106 margin. Cameron Payne made his season debut, scoring eight points on 3-for- 4 shooting to go with two rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes.

With the win, Oklahoma City improved to 9-2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena versus Western Conference opponents this season. Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have always taken pride in defending its home court. Oklahoma City finished the 2015-16 season with a home record of 32-9 (tied for 4th best home record in the NBA). Included in that, OKC went an impressive 23-3 at Chesapeake Energy Arena this year when facing Western Conference opponents. Dating back to the start of the 2009-10 season, OKC has gone 225-73 (.755) at home (2nd best home record in the NBA during this span).

Through the first 38 games of the season, Westbrook had amassed averages of 31.4 points (1st in the NBA), 10.6 rebounds (11th in the NBA) and 10.3 assists (2nd in the NBA). By reaching these benchmarks, Westbrook is now the second player in NBA history (Oscar Robertson) to average 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 10+ assists through the first 30+ games of a NBA season. With 17 triple-doubles on the season (the rest of the NBA has recorded 26 triple-doubles combined this year), Westbrook now owns 53 career triple-doubles which is the most among active NBA players. Westbrook already ranks sixth all-time in NBA history with his 53 triple doubles.

In the Thunder’s wins this season, they are outscoring the opposition by a 110.7 to 100.2 margin. In those games, OKC is limiting the opposition to just 42.7% shooting (OKC has held the opponent to under 100 points in 11 of the team’s 22 wins this season).

OKC will be looking for payback here after losing the first meeting with Memphis 114-80 in Tennessee on Dec. 29. Westbrook had two technicals in the third quarter and was tossed. Westbrook left with 21 points, five rebounds and no assists. Enes Kanter scored 19 as Oklahoma City set a season low for points.

Memphis at Oklahoma City Betting Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

Go Thunder on NBA odds.