Brooklyn vs OKC NBA Picks
Brooklyn is hoping the New Year will bring new luck but that seems unlikely as they are still on their road trip of death, playing the league’s best teams in Indiana, San Antonio and now Oklahoma City. [ad-4468020]
Brooklyn Nets (10-21) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-6)
Thursday January 2
Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, OK
8:00PM
Moneyline: No moneyline currently listed
Spread: Oklahoma City -12
O/U: 205.5
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ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
Brooklyn
This team has not been right all season and is now becoming a bit of a joke.
If they can at least be competitive with the Thunder that might be as much of a victory as anything else but it looks like we will see more of the same.
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C Brooke Lopez is out for the season so the Nets are scrambling a bit up front. Kevin Garnett can play a bit in the middle but it has been a pleasant development to see rookie Mason Plumlee have his best game as a pro the last time out with 15 points and 13 boards.
This team needs all the production it can get as key players Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Paul Pierce are all well below career scoring averages this season. Nothing is working in Brooklyn.
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It is no surprise that Brooklyn has been a terrible bet this season, especially so of late covering just once in the last seven games. This team has a lot of trouble scoring and defending and lacks consistency which is what really nails us when we are handicapping.
Kind of like Chicago, you need to stay away from Brooklyn right now, unless you are fading them.
Oklahoma City
The Thunder suffered only their second home loss of the season at the hands of Portland on New Year Eve. That was their first loss since it was announced that PG Russell Westbrook will be out of the lineup until after the All-Star break.
With the remaining players in the lineup Oklahoma City has more than enough talent to beat the likes of Brooklyn, who in a quirk of scheduling, they last played exactly one year ago.
OKC should be fine for a while without Westbrook because they have a very similar player to give more minutes too in the form of Reggie Jackson. Jackson is not the defensive presence of Westbrook but they are both aggressive players who are effective as combo guards as opposed to true points.
They also have some guy named Kevin Durant who is pretty good too. He scored 37 against Portland and is leading the league.
The Thunder do not lose very often but when it comes to covering the number they are not very good – just .500 at home. OKC is strong offensively and defensively so you would think they would have been earning more for backers this season.
In this one though I can make no argument for the Nets keeping it close.
Spread Pick: Oklahoma City -12
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Oklahoma City 105 – Brooklyn 91
