Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Madison Square Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder head to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 2 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 13-14. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.3 as they are averaging 101.7 points per contest while giving up 99.4 per game. The Knicks have an overall mark of 15-13. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 104.6 points per contest and giving up 104.0, which is a point differential of 0.6.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 8-18-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-17-0 against the over/under

Important New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 16-12-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 13-14-1 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

12/14/17 G Andre Roberson Ankle is downgraded to OUT Friday vs Philadelphia

Key New York Knicks Injuries

12/15/17 F Kristaps Porzingis Knee left last game, is "?" Saturday vs Oklahoma City
12/05/17 G Tim Hardaway Jr. Leg is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this game averaging 22.6 points per contest while playing 36 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 9.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 9.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 72%. Paul George averages 20.3 points per contest in 36.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.3 assists per game and 5.6 rebounds per contest for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 41% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Kristaps Porzingis has scored 25.5 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per game this season for the Knicks. He hauls in 6.6 rebounds per contest and has 1.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Enes Kanter averages 13.4 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 25.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 10.3 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is 93%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 101.7 points per contest this year, which is 24th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.3 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 29th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 27th in the NBA. They average 43.7 boards per contest and 20.8 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 12th with 15.1 per game. The Thunder allow 99.4 points per contest which is 3rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 12th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they allow 21.1 assists per game which puts them in 7th place in the league. They force 17.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New York is 17th in the NBA with 104.6 points per contest this season. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 0.61. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 19th in the league. They are 12th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.3 boards per contest and 10th in assists per game with 23.1. The Knicks are 6th in turnovers per contest with 15.9. The Knicks give up 104 points per game, which ranks them 13th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 15th with 22.6 dimes allowed per game and 1st with 39.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Knicks are 12th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 103.2, and their offensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 29th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 27th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 15th in the NBA. Oklahoma City is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

New York is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Knicks are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 107.7, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 16th. They are 19th in the NBA in pace with 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 15th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Thunder/Knicks NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -2

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