Thunder vs Lakers NBA Betting Odds, Lines and Preview

With this being the final season in which Kobe Bryant graces the courts of NBA betting, every game he plays in becomes something of a special event. He will play another one before his home crowd at the Staples Center on Wednesday, December 23, with the Oklahoma City Thunder being the team that visits this time around. Tip-off for this one is set for 10:30 PM EST on NBA TV.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Lakers NBA Betting Preview

#LakersWin Kobe Bryant #NBAVOTE pic.twitter.com/UgtJBLVSaf
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 23, 2015

View full TV schedule here. The Lakers have only managed to pick up 4 wins on the season so far, which helps explain why their straight up odds are so high. The big question here is to whether or not can go into LA and cover the points that they are favored by.

Why bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder

There are few teams hotter in the NBA right now than the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-9). It took them a minute to get rolling, but they have now gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and are now in sole possession of the number 3 seed in the Western Conference. They are just .500 on the road this season, but are coming off a big road win versus the LA Clippers on Monday night. The one area where the Thunder have not been very good this season is against the spread, as they are just 12-16-0 ATS so far. OKC is averaging 107.4 PPG this season, and are giving up 99.5 PPG.

Why bet on the LA Lakers

I understand that it is my job to fin valid reasons why the Lakers (4-23) might be a good bet on Wednesday night, but there are days when my job becomes tough to accomplish. LA is just 9-18-0 ATS so far this season, and they are a pretty dreadful 2-8 SU over their last 10 games. You might be able to find a little value in the OVER/UNDER, as the OVER is 6-1 in the last 7 games that the Lakers have played on a Wednesday night. The OVER is 4-1 in the last 5 games that LA has played on 0 day’s rest. The Lakers are averaging 96.6 PPG, whilst giving up 107.2 PPG.

Betting Odds Trends

Oklahoma City is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oklahoma City’s last 7 games Oklahoma City is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City’s last 7 games on the road Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Lakers LA Lakers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games LA Lakers is 3-15 SU in its last 18 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Lakers’s last 7 games LA Lakers is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games at home LA Lakers is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games at home

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is a real opportunity for the Oklahoma City Thunder to get their road record over the .500 mark, as I just don’t see any way that they lose this one. It should be a pretty comfortable night for them. Oklahoma City Thunder 112 LA Lakers 82