Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns NBA Picks & Predictions 1/7/2018

Sunday, January 7, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, January 7, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 9 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 22-17. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 4.1 as they are averaging 104.9 points per contest while giving up 100.8 per game. The Suns have an overall mark of 15-26. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 105.5 points per contest and giving up 112.4, which is a point differential of -6.9.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 15-23-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 17-22-0 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Suns Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns are 19-20-2 against the spread

The Phoenix Suns are 21-20-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

01/06/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is OUT Sunday vs Phoenix

Key Phoenix Suns Injuries

10/14/17 PG Brandon Knight Knee is out for season
01/06/18 F TJ Warren Illness is "?" Sunday vs Oklahoma City

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 24.8 points per game in 36.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 10.1 assists per contest and 9.6 rebounds per game for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%. Carmelo Anthony comes into this contest averaging 17.7 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Thunder. He pulls down 5.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%.

Player Spotlight

T.J. Warren averages 19.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.6 rebounds per contest and 1.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 77%. Mike James averages 10.4 points per game while playing 20.9 minutes per contest this year for the Suns. He grabs 2.8 rebounds per game and has 3.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage currently is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 100.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they give up 22 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 104.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 4.08 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 18th in the league. They average 44.1 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 13th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 14.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Suns surrender 112.4 points per contest, which ranks them 30th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 13th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest, and 26th with 45.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Suns are 4th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per game this season. Phoenix is 15th in the league with 105.5 points per game this year. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -6.93. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 45.1 boards per game and 29th in assists per contest with 20.7. The Suns are 3rd in turnovers per game with 16.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.1, and their defensive rating of 104.8 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 18th. As a team they are 23rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 18th in the league. Oklahoma City is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Phoenix is 9th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 15th in the NBA. The Suns are 27th in the league in defensive rating with 111.6, and their offensive rating of 104.8 is ranked 2nd. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 29th. As a unit they are 26th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 22nd in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Phoenix +9

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