Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers NBA Picks & Predictions 2/8/2018

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, February 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 7 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 31-24. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.8 as they are averaging 106.6 points per contest while giving up 102.8 per game. The Lakers have an overall mark of 22-31. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 106.7 points per contest and giving up 109.7, which is a point differential of -3.0.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 22-32-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 24-31-0 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 28-25-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 27-26-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

02/07/18 F Carmelo Anthony Ankle is "?" Thursday vs LA Lakers
01/28/18 G Andre Roberson Leg is out for season

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

01/25/18 PG Lonzo Ball MCL is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this contest averaging 25.5 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Thunder. He pulls down 9.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 10.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 72%. Paul George averages 22 points per game in 36.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Kuzma averages 15.7 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per contest this year for the Lakers. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 71%. Brandon Ingram averages 15.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 106.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 26th in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14.2 per game. The Thunder allow 102.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.1 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 22.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 16.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 12th in the league with 106.7 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -2.94. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 30th in the NBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 46.4 boards per game, and 10th in assists per contest with 23.3. The Lakers are 2nd in turnovers per game with 16.1. The Lakers surrender 109.7 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 15th with 22.9 assists allowed per contest and 27th with 45.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lakers are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.2 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110, and their defensive rating of 106.1 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 96.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 20th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. Oklahoma City is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 20th in the NBA. The Lakers are 28th in the league in defensive rating with 107.4, and their offensive rating of 104.5 is ranked 19th. They are 1st in the NBA in pace with 100.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 24th. As a unit they are 28th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Oklahoma City -7

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