The OKC Thunder visit the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
OKC is currently 10th in the Western Conference team standings with a 38-39 SU record. They are just one game ahead of the 11th-seeded Dallas Mavericks and are looking to extend their lead to stay in the playoff hunt. The Thunder are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games and are coming off a last-second win over the Detroit Pistons.
Indiana is 33-44 SU on the season and they have dropped out of the Top 10 and are now in 12th place in the East standings. They are now four games off 10th-seeded Chicago with only 5 games left to play. Making the play-in tournament is difficult now but the Pacers are not yet officially eliminated.
The Thunder bounced back from their loss to the Charlotte Hornets by beating the Detroit Pistons in their last game. Rookie Jalen Williams scored the game-winning tip-in with less than one second left to play. Williams scored a total of 27 points in the game while also grabbing six rebounds and issuing six assists. Lugentz Dort added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals while Aaron Wiggins added 19.
OKC is scoring 117.5 points per game this season but just 107 in their last game while making 44.8% from the field and 34.5% from deep. The Thunder are giving up 116.4 points per game and allowed 106 points the last time out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lindy Waters III are listed as questionable for this game.
The Pacers have seen their playoff hopes dashed after losing their last four games played. Benedict Mathurin led Indiana with 29 points and 9 rebounds while Aaron Nesmith added 22 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Jordan Nwora also contributed 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Indiana has struggled on defense this season, allowing 119.1 points per game. They gave up 149 points the last time out and won’t be able to win games with how they are currently defending. The Pacers are scoring 115.9 points per game and put up 136 points in their last game while shooting 52.5% from the floor and 46.7% from three-point distance.
The Thunder are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played. Oklahoma City is 1-3 SU in their last four games played in Indiana.
OKC Thunder SU trends:
Indiana Pacers SU trends:
There are plenty of reasons why the OKC Thunder remain in the playoff hunt with less than two weeks left to play in the regular season.
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander has taken a significant leap forward. Then there are rookies Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams who both have played very well during the second half of the season. And then there is Lu Dort who has continued to improve as one of the best defenders in the NBA. During Wednesday’s win over the Detroit Pistons, Dort forced and won a late jump ball that ultimately led to Jalen Williams’ game-winning shot.
OKC has played without SGA in the last two games after he sprained his left ankle during Sunday’s win in Portland. Gilgeous-Alexander is listed as questionable for this game. The Thunder come to Friday’s game in 10th place in the Western Conference team standings with five games left to play.
The Pacers have dropped outside of the Top 10 in the East and are now 3.5 games back of 10th place. Indiana has lost four straight games and is just 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played. The reason? The Pacers’ top three scorers in Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield are on the injured list.
Turner has missed the Pacers’ last three games played while Haliburton and Hield have not played in the team’s last two games. With the team in the middle of an 8-game stretch against the Top 10 team in their conference, Indiana’s postseason hope may be already over. Despite that, don’t expect this team to just lay down and die on Thursday as head coach Rick Carlisle says this stretch will help his young players grow.
This should be a good game between two young teams. However, this game means more to the Thunder than the Pacers. Both teams will put on a good effort but the more desperate team should be able to pull off the win. Prediction: OKC Thunder
The Thunder are 2-1 ATS in their last 3 games played against the Thunder. Oklahoma City is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Indiana.
OKC Thunder ATS trends:
Indiana Pacers ATS trends:
Thunder
-4 (-115)
Pacers
+4 (-105)
Odds from BetOnline as of 03/31/2023
OKC has won four out of their last seven games played. The Thunder are scoring more than 119 points in their last 3 games played. They are also taking advantage of their foul shots and are making 80% from the stripe. OKC is also an excellent rebounding team and they are pulling down 11 offensive rebounds per game on the road, which will give them more scoring opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are struggling right now as they are dealing with injuries. But more than the offense of their top three scorers that they’ve missed, it’s Indiana’s poor defense that has really put them in trouble.
The Pacers have allowed more than 135 points per game in their last three games played. Even without SGA, the Thunder should be able to score more than enough points to cover the betting spread.
Prediction: OKC Thunder
The over is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 games played between these two teams. The total has gone over in 14 out of the last 19 games played between these two teams.
OKC Thunder over/under trends:
Indiana Pacers over/under trends:
Over
241 (-110)
Under
241 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 03/31/2023
These teams have combined to score an average of 236.33 points per game in their last three head-to-head meetings. OKC is putting up 117.5 points per game this season. The Thunder play a fast-paced game and have scored at least 118 points in two out of their last three games played.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are allowing 119.3 points per game at home. They are also scoring 118.7 points at homeland and are averaging 104.9 possessions per game. The Pacers have surrendered at least 120 points in each of their last four games played, including 127 or more three times. I expect a high-scoring game between these two teams.
Prediction: Over 241
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