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Friday's NBA Action
November 23, 2012
By Sportsbook
Sportsbook.ag NBA Betting Odds
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (9-3) at BOSTON CELTICS (6-6)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oklahoma City -3.5 & 198
High-flying Oklahoma City aims for a fourth consecutive victory when it visits slumping Boston on Friday night.
While the Thunder have scored at least 110 points in all three of their wins, the Celtics have given up more than 100 points in three of their past four contests, losing all three. Oklahoma City is 3-1 SU (2-1-1 ATS) on the road this season, allowing just 90.5 PPG on 42% FG to the host teams. Boston is a pedestrian 3-3 SU (1-4-1 ATS) at home this season, surrendering 98.8 PPG on 46% FG to visiting clubs. The Thunder have won three straight in this series (SU and ATS) and have also taken three in a row at TD Garden (SU and ATS).
The Celtics are just not playing the sound defense that has propelled them to the top of the Eastern Conference in recent years. Their 46.3% FG defense ranks 27th in the NBA, a far cry from their league-best 41.9% FG defense last season. By the way Kevin Durant (29.0 PPG in past three games) and the Thunder are putting up points, it could be a long night for Boston. Road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points outscoring opponents by 3+ PPG for the season, after scoring 105+ points in three straight games are 58-27 ATS (68%) since 1996.
Oklahoma City has completely recovered from its 1-2 start to the season, winning eight of nine SU (6-3 ATS) since then. The two stars are carrying this team as SF Kevin Durant is averaging 26.3 PPG (51% FG, 48% threes), 8.7 RPG and 4.0 APG during the nine-game surge with PG Russell Westbrook posting 20.6 PPG and 9.0 APG in these nine contests. Durant scored a season-high 35 points in Wednesday's 117-111 overtime win over the red-hot Clippers, and Westbrook averaged 28.5 PPG against the Celtics last season. Role players are also thriving though, especially new sixth man SG Kevin Martin, whose 20 points (6-of-10 FG, 3-of-5 threes) in Wednesday's win gives him 17.8 PPG on 50% FG (54% threes) for the season. PF Serge Ibaka also had a huge game against L.A. with 15 points and 12 boards, and reserve C Hasheem Thabeet dropped in 10 points and four boards in just 12 minutes of action.
The Thunder are not known for their defense, but this season they rank fifth in the NBA with 42.8% FG defense. With Kendrick Perkins also providing the strong interior defense, the undersized Boston frontcourt that averages a league-low 35.8 PPG will certainly have its hands full on Friday night.
Cleaning up the glass has been a huge problem for Boston recently, as it has been outrebounded by 9.7 RPG during the past six contests. But the offense has been clicking for the most part with 96+ points in eight of its past nine games, an shooting 50% or better from the floor in four of the past six contests. The Celtics rank third in the league in assists thanks mostly to Rajon Rondo's league-leading 13.3 APG. No other player in the NBA is even dishing out 10 assists per game. Rondo had 22 points and 15 assists in Wednesday's 112-100 home loss to San Antonio, in a game where all five starters scored at least a dozen points. SF Paul Pierce scored 19, but had zero rebounds and just two assists in 36 minutes of action. The bench didn't give much help either, combining for a rating of minus-46 between five players.
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ASA |
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4-2 L6, 8-3 L11, 20-9 L29 Picks |
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