Thunder vs. Spurs Prediction and Odds (OKC's Season Going from Bad to Much Worse)

How bad does a team have to be to find themselves as 13.5 points underdogs to the 26-43 San Antonio Spurs? Oklahoma City Thunder levels of bad it would seem.  Both teams are outside of the cut line in the Western Conference playoff picture with the Thunder 14th and the Spurs 12th.

The Spurs are two games out of the No. 10 spot while the Thunder lag by 7.5 games. Neither is technically eliminated from the playoffs but I have a hard time believing that the Thunder can make up those spots.

The Spurs however have the Blazers and Pelicans ahead of them. Two teams that can implode in a moment. Therefore, the Spurs actually have a lot to play for here. But still. 13.5 points to the Spurs? Let’s see if we can’t figure out where the oddsmakers are coming from with this line.  Here are the odds for this Western Conference courtesy of WynnBET: 

Thunder vs. Spurs Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

• Thunder: +13.5 (-110)
• Spurs: -13.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Thunder: +650
• Spurs: -1000

Total: 

• 230.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Thunder vs. Spurs Prediction and Pick

While the Spurs are not eliminated from the playoffs yet, I just can’t help but think they just don’t really care that much. They don’t look motivated to win and are just 3-7 straight up in their last ten games. The Thunder, meanwhile, is on a six-game losing streak and 2-8 in their last 10 games. All this tells me is that we’re looking at two bad teams here. Still not seeing 13.5 points. Let’s keep digging. 

After glancing over the recent scores for the Thunder, I think I may have found those points. Since the start of March, and the start of OKC’s losing streak, they are 0-6 straight up and 2-4 against the spread. Pretty bad.

But it gets worse. In those six games, the Thunder lost two by 30+ points, one by 27, and two more by double digits. The only of those six games that ended in a single-digit loss was against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder suffered ATS losses as 13.5 point dogs to the Bucks, 15.5 to the Timberwolves, and 13.5 to the Hornets on Monday.

So, while the Spurs might not be too motivated to win, the Thunder have completely given up. Either that or they are even more awful than any of us thought. Either way, the Thunder suck and should be avoided at all costs. None of this is a ringing endorsement of the Spurs mind you. They are just less bad and are my pick in this game. 

Prediction: San Antonio Spurs -13.5  (-110)

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE