Oklahoma City at Memphis NBA Expert Betting Pick & Preview

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies are both in the Western Conference playoffs. Which one of those two finishes sixth and faces the Houston Rockets in the first round or which finishes seventh and takes on San Antonio could largely be determined on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies should be slight NBA betting favorites if Marc Gasol can play. That’s in question, however.

Oklahoma City at Memphis NBA Expert Betting Pick & Preview

When: Wednesday, April 5, 7 PM ET Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA.tv Radio: Oklahoma City / Memphis NBA Odds: TBA

Why Bet On Oklahoma City?

The Thunder will be coming off a home game vs. Milwaukee on Tuesday. So if Russell Westbrook gets a triple-double vs. the Bucks, he could set the NBA single-season record in this game. That mark is 41 by Oscar Robertson and Westbrook had his 40 th triple-double of the season in Sunday’s 113-101 home loss to Charlotte. Westbrook finished with 40 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. It was Westbrook's first career triple-double against Charlotte. To clinch a season triple-double, Westbrook needs 11 rebounds and 29 assists over the Thunder's final six games. It was also Westbrook’s sixth straight game with a triple-double. He became the first player in NBA history to have separate streaks of more than five triple-doubles in the same season. Unfortunately for Westbrook, his huge game came in a loss, his second while recording a triple-double at home. He is the first player since Maurice Stokes of the Cincinnati Royals in the 1957-58 season to record back-to- back triple-doubles in home losses. Westbrook has amassed averages of 31.9 points (1st in the NBA), 10.6 rebounds (11 th in the NBA) and 10.4 assists (3rd in the NBA). By reaching these benchmarks, Westbrook is now the second player in NBA history (Robertson) to average 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 10+ assists through the first 70+ games of a NBA season. Additionally, the last player to average 30+ points and 10+ assists was Tony Archibald (1972-73 season). Charlotte had 18 steals against Oklahoma City, the most in a regular-season game for the Hornets since Nov. 23, 2012, against Atlanta. The Hornets scored 35 points off 24 Oklahoma City turnovers. Taj Gibson returned to the starting lineup after missing Friday’s game against San Antonio due to illness, but scored only four points in 13 minutes. Victor Oladipo scored 19 points on 6-of- 14 shooting Sunday, to go with three boards, six assists, two 3-pointers one steal and four turnovers in 33 minutes. Oladipo was spotted walking with a slight limp after the game after banging knees with a Hornets’ player during the fourth quarter, but he said he was “OK” during his post-game interview.

Why Bet On Memphis?

Memphis comes off a game in San Antonio on Tuesday, its final road game of the regular season. The Grizzlies had a bad loss Sunday at the Lakers, 108-103. Mike Conley scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, but missed a 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds to play that could have tied the game. The Lakers outrebounded the Grizzlies 51-33 and forced six turnovers in the fourth quarter. Memphis picked up another 20 points from Troy Daniels off the bench, but no Grizzlies player ended up in double figures in rebounds. Gasol (left foot strain) did not play on Sunday vs. the Lakers. It was his fifth game in a row on the shelf. The Grizzlies have already clinched a playoff spot, so they are going to be cautious with the big man. Vince Carter also sat out vs. the Lakers but just for rest. Coach Dave Fizdale acknowledged that he’ll continue to find time for his main players to get rest before the regular-season ends. Memphis had just 10 players available against the Lakers. “We’re at the end now,” Fizdale said. “Wherever we end up, it’s going to be a great team anyway. Right now it’s the last five games, so can we get better? Can we get some guys feeling healthier? We’ve got some guys really nicked up. That’s all it’s about right now, and I told the guys I was really happy with their effort. The mental part came back to bite us again, being able to focus under duress while you’re fatigued and execute. That’s something we’ve just got to keep working on.” Memphis owns a 15‐8 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. Memphis is 11‐5 this season when playing on the second night of a back‐to‐back, winning the first eight times when playing on zero nights’ rest. The Grizzlies are 10‐0 this season when shooting at least 50 percent from the field

Oklahoma City at Memphis Betting Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

OKC leads the season series 2-1. I would wait as long as possible to bet this game to see which players will be resting on both sides.