NBA Betting: San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder Thurs. April 4, 2013 9:30 p.m. ET
The San Antonio Spurs were having a rough week before heading into their matchup with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night losing consecutive games and international superstar Manu Ginobili to a hamstring injury for the next three to four weeks.
Fortunately for Tim Duncan and company, the top seeded Spurs were able to bounce back with a much-needed win over the lowly Orlando Magic on Wednesday putting them a game and a half ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.
With the San Antonio maintaining the lead in the West and oddsmakers in Las Vegas apparently confident it will remain that way, Thursday’s game will be crucial to keeping that position moving forward with Spurs going head-to-head against Thunder in Oklahoma City at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The number one seed in the West may very well be on the line on Thursday with these two powerhouses going toe-to-toe for the right to face the eighth seed in the conference in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Although the Spurs are advanced in age with everyone waiting for the floor to dropout in San Antonio, Greg Popovich’s squad was still favored to make an impact in the West this season along with the Thunder.
This matchup will be an all out battle and a potential Western Conference Finals preview. The Thunder may be the team to beat in the West from a Las Vegas perspective, but the Spurs are threatening to make another run at a title in the Duncan era.
The game will likely come down to the wire in one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. Oklahoma City has the clear advantage in this game with potential injuries forcing Popovich to sit important players including Ginobili.
At this point in time, the Thunder are favored heavily to get the best of the Spurs on Thursday night with a 7 1/2 point spread. Although San Antonio has been solid without their stars at times this season, Thursday will likely be different with Oklahoma City more than likely too much to handle on their home floor.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -7 1/2
The player prop bet to keep on eye on in this matchup will be Durant’s point total at 29 1/2 Over/Under. I’d take the Over here with Durant poised to have a big night.