Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Blazers - 12/8/19 NBA Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers

Date: Sunday, December 8, 2019

Location: Moda Center in Portland, OR

TV: NBC Sports Northwest

Odds/Point Spread: Portland -3.5

Total/Over-Under: 220.5

Moda Center is the venue where Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (9-14, 5th in the Northwest Division) will play the Oklahoma City Thunder (9-12, 4th in the Northwest Division) on Sunday. Oklahoma City opens this game as 3.5 point dogs. The total opens at 220.5.

The Thunder are covering 61.9% of the time, having gone 13-8-0 ATS. Portland is covering the spread 45.5% of the time, going 10-12-1 against the spread.

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

12/6/2019 Deonte Burton SG Suspension Expected to be out until at least Dec 8
12/5/2019 Terrance Ferguson SG Hip Expected to be out until at least Dec 8
12/4/2019 Andre Roberson SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 1
11/25/2019 Hamidou Diallo SG Elbow Expected to be out until at least Jan 4

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/7/2019 Rodney Hood SG Achilles Out for the season
12/4/2019 Jr SG Hamstring Game Time Decision
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15
7/6/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 1

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 18.6 points per game in 34.8 minutes per contest. He averages 3.0 assists per contest and 5.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%. Danilo Gallinari comes into this contest averaging 18.6 points per game while playing 30.3 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 92%.

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum averages 22.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 36.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 3.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Damian Lillard averages 26.7 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per game and has 7.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 109.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.2 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they give up 22.8 assists per contest which puts them in 7th place in the league. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 108.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 8th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 19th in the league. They average 42.2 rebounds per game and 22.0 assists per contest, which ranks them 26th and 26th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 21st with 14.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers surrender 115.7 points per contest, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 23.6 assists allowed per contest, and 29th with 48.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blazers are 5th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per game. Portland is 9th in the league with 113.4 points per game this year. They are 14th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -2.3. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They are 11th in the league in rebounding with 46.1 boards per game and 29th in assists per contest with 20.3. The Blazers are 28th in turnovers per game with 13.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 17th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.8, and their defensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 12th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 21st in the league. Oklahoma City is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 28th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 20th in the NBA. The Blazers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 112.1, and their offensive rating of 109.9 is ranked 22nd. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 102.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 16th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Oklahoma City +3.5

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