The best current rivalry in basketball will add another chapter when the San Antonio Spurs (27-12) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-7) on Tuesday night. Oklahoma City may be the best team in the NBA, but San Antonio owns the most recent head-to-head matchup. In fact, the underdogs have won all three meetings so far this season.
Let’s get into my predictions for Spurs vs. Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder odds
Money line: Spurs +215 / Thunder -260
Spread: Spurs +7.5 (-110) / Thunder -7.5 (-110)
Total: Over 229.5 (-114) / Under 229.5 (-106)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder best bet #1: Spurs +7.5 (-110)
San Antonio’s recent dominance of this game makes it the most impressive in the NBA – and hopefully the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder in three different locations this season: in a neutral-site NBA Cup semifinal (Las Vegas), in San Antonio, and in Oklahoma City. The last two points of victory were 20 points and 15 points, proving again that those results were not a mistake. Now the bookies are calling for Oklahoma City to win at least eight on Tuesday? I do not think so. Although the Spurs are 4-5 in their last nine games, not since Dec. 29 have they lost by more than one point to Victor Wembanyama (he missed a 115-110 loss to the Trail Blazers on Jan. 3).
Dunder didn’t quite burn, either. Going back to their NBA Cup semifinal game against San Antonio, they are 9-6 in their last 15 games. Despite the current three game win, OKC is 0-5 ATS in their last five overall and 0-3 ATS in their last three home games. It is also 1-5 ATS in the last six head-to-head meetings with the Spurs. Adding insult to injury (or vice versa), seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein has missed eight straight contests with a calf strain and likely won’t play in it. All the pressure is on Oklahoma City, so San Antonio has a good chance to win again. At the very least, guests should be included.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder betting best player: Julian Champagnie 11.5 points (-120)
Spurs guard Devin Vassell has missed seven straight games with an adductor injury and will miss this one as well. Fortunately for San Antonio, it has a lot of depth going for it. Eight players (Vassell included) scored twice – and that included Champagne, who excelled in his starting role in Vassell’s absence.
Product of St. John is averaging 17.9 ppg over the past seven games. He has scored at least 12 points in five of the last seven contests. During this period, Champagne has scored less than 11 points only once and its lowest result is nine.
