NBA Previews – OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Hornets
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Thunder at Hornets Matchup
Date/Time: Monday, Jan. 24 8 p.m. (ET)
Venue: New Orleans Arena
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Thunder at Hornets lines by betED.com
Pointspread: Hornets -4 ½
Over/Under: 191
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The Oklahoma City Thunder will be looking to pad their lead over Utah in the Northwest Division with a road victory over the surging New Orleans Hornets. Tonight’s game from the New Orleans Arena tips-off at 8 p.m. (ET) and will be available on NBA League Pass.
Oklahoma City has been able to carve out a bit of breathing room over the Jazz in the division with five wins in its last seven games. The Thunder lost to Denver 112-107 this past Wednesday as a 3 ½-point road underdog, but bounced back to beat New York 101-98 as an eight-point home favorite on Saturday. They are now 28-15 straight-up on the year (22-21 against the spread) and have a 1 ½-game lead over Utah and a three-game lead over Denver.
Much of the team’s success this season can be attributed to the high level of play from the NBA’s scoring leader Kevin Durant. He is averaging 28.3 points per game and is second on the team in rebounds with 6.3. Another reason the Thunder are currently the third best team in the Western Conference is Russell Westbrook, who is second on the team in scoring with 22.7 points and first in assists with an average of 8.3 per game.
Oklahoma City is averaging 103.8 points per game which is sixth-best in the NBA and shooting 45.6 percent from the floor. Defensively, it has not been nearly as good; giving up an average of 102.2 points per game. The Thunder are ranked 13th in the league in rebounds with 42 per game and have a +1.44 advantage over their opposition. 
New Orleans is suddenly the hottest team in the league with eight straight wins. It last one, a 96-72 victory over San Antonio as a 1 ½-point home underdog has to be one of its most impressive wins of the year. This followed a 100-59 romp over Atlanta as a 3 ½-point road underdog. The Hornets are now 29-16 SU overall (25-19-1 ATS) and 8 ½-games in back of the Spurs in the Southwest Division. This recent streak has left them tied with the Mavericks and the Thunder for third-place in the West.
The Hornets have five players averaging double-figures led by David West’s 18.6 points per game. Chris Paul is averaging 16.2 points and a team-high 9.6 assists, while Emeka Okafor is averaging 11 points and leading the team in rebounds with 10.4 per game.
New Orleans is only averaging 94.3 points per game but it leads the league in points allowed; giving up an average of just 91 a game. It has been especially stingy over the last eight games, only giving up an average of 84.5 points. The Hornets are ranked 10th in the league in rebounds, with an average of 42.4 per game while holding their opposition to an average of 39.7 which is fifth-best in the NBA.
Trends
Oklahoma City is 2-4 ATS in its last six road games and 4-3 ATS in its last seven games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in its last three games.
New Orleans is 2-3 ATS in its last five games at home and 7-2 ATS in its last nine games overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last eight games.
Head-to-head, the Thunder have won the last four games both SU and ATS including two wins this season. They beat the Hornets 95-89 on Nov. 29 as a 3 ½-point home favorite and won 97-92 as a three-point road underdog on Dec. 10. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the last five meetings including both games this year.
Everything points to another tight, low-scoring battle with the Hornets getting the SU win at home, but the Thunder covering ATS. This time around the total is set at 191, but this could still be a solid play given both team’s recent scoring trends.
The Pick: Oklahoma City +4 ½ and UNDER
