Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, 3/19/2023 Preview and Pick

Game: Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Date: Sunday, March 19, 2023

Location: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK

TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma

Odds/Point Spread: Phoenix (-3)

The Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on Sunday. Phoenix opens this game as 3-point favorites from oddsmakers. The over/under is 230.

The Suns took the court against the Magic and went home with a win by a final score of 116-113 in their last game. In regard to fouls, the Suns ended up walking away with 22 and the Magic recorded 20 fouls. They also knocked down 8 of 28 attempts from distance. Orlando finished 82.6% when shooting free throws by knocking down 19 of their 23 shots. In addition, Orlando collected 47 rebounds (11 offensive, 36 defensive) and added 5 blocks. Orlando doled out 25 assists and had 7 steals in this contest. In relation to defending, Phoenix allowed the other team to go 50.0% from the floor on 43 of 86 shooting. They also doled out 26 assists in this matchup as well as creating 17 turnovers and getting 7 steals. With respect to hauling in boards, they collected a total of 35 with 7 of them being on the offensive end. At the free throw line, the Suns knocked down 17 of 17 tries for a percentage of 100.0%. Phoenix wrapped up the game with a 47.8% FG percentage (43 of 90) and made 13 of their 35 shots from beyond the perimeter.

Devin Booker is one player who had an impact for this game. He racked up 19 points on 7 of 17 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 36 minutes played and also collected 5 rebounds. Booker finished shooting 41.2% from the floor and also distributed 2 dimes.

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Phoenix enters this one with a win-loss record of 38-32 so far this season. They turn it over 13.9 times per game and as a basketball team they are committing 21.2 fouls every game. As a unit, Phoenix is pulling down 44.2 rebounds per game and has accounted for 1,897 assists on the season, which has them ranked 3rd in the league in terms of passing the rock. The Suns are connecting on 37.6% on shots from distance (860 of 2,287) and 79.5% from the free throw line. They are averaging 113.3 pts per game (20th in basketball) while connecting on 46.7% from the field.

Defensively, the Suns are able to force 14.7 turnovers every game and they draw 20.0 fouls. They are 5th in basketball in giving up assists with 1,633 relinquished this season. The Suns defensively are allowing an opponent shooting percentage of 46.6% (2,793 of 5,999) and they surrender 42.7 rebounds per contest as a unit. They give up 35.9% on three-point shots and they rank 4th in the league in PPG allowed (111.4).

In their last game, the Thunder took a loss by a score of 128-111 against the Raptors. The Thunder corralled 28 defensive boards and 11 offensive boards totaling 39 in this matchup. They gave up possession of the ball 13 times, while earning 5 steals for this game. The Raptors committed 20 fouls in the game which took the Thunder to the charity stripe for a total of 20 tries. They were able to bury 18 of those for a rate of 90.0%. Regarding 3-pointers, Oklahoma City made 13 of 31 attempts (41.9%). When all was said and done, the Thunder went 40 out of 94 from the field which had them shooting 42.6%. The Thunder permitted the Raptors to make 47 out of their 97 tries from the floor which had them shooting 48.5% in this contest. They shot 43.8% from 3-point land by connecting on 14 of 32 and finished the game at 20 out of 28 from the charity stripe (71.4%). When it comes to cleaning up the glass, Oklahoma City allowed Toronto to collect 59 in all (19 offensive).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was important for the Thunder in this contest. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 29 points in his 35 mins on the hardwood and added 3 dimes for this contest. He converted 12 out of 19 for the contest giving him a field goal percentage of 63.2%, and had 3 rebounds.

Oklahoma City has a win-loss record of 34-36 for the year. When it comes to executing on offense, the Thunder are connecting on 46.7% from the floor, which is ranked 21st in the league. Oklahoma City has totaled 8,244 pts on the year (117.8 per contest) and they average 43.7 rebounds per game. Their rate of earning assists is at 24.7 times per game (19th in the league) and they are turning it over 13.2 times per contest. The Thunder are committing 21.2 personal fouls every game and they hit 80.6% from the free throw line.

The Thunder are ranked 20th in basketball in points per game surrendered with 116.3. They are forcing their opponents into 17.0 turnovers on a nightly basis and have let teams shoot 47.0% from the field (12th in basketball). The Oklahoma City defense concedes 35.9% on 3-point shots (907 of 2,527) and their opponents are converting on 78.1% of their free throw shots. They allow 25.8 assists and 46.8 rebounds on a nightly basis, which ranks 18th and 30th in the league.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Oklahoma City (+3)

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