In the North on Friday evening, the Thunder, 1st, meet the faltering Raptors. Oklahoma City has dominated this season with an impressive 48-20 record, putting them atop the Western Conference, currently ahead of the Nuggets and Wolves, for the night at least. Their recent three-game winning streak was extended by Chet Holmgren’s remarkable 35-point performance against Utah on Wednesday, complemented by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive 31 points in a decisive 119-107 victory. On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors are having a difficult season with a 23-46 record, occupying 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings. Their struggles are evident, compounded by an alarming eight-game losing streak. Despite Gary Trent Jr.’s commendable effort, scoring 18 points, the Raptors suffered a major 123-89 loss to the Kings on Wednesday night.
Their only meeting this season led to a Thunder victory over 04/02/2024.
Thunder and lightning
The Oklahoma City Thunder used a strong second half to earn a 119-107 victory over the Utah Jazz. Holmgren’s poster highlighted one of his best performances of the season. “Credit Utah, they really competed tonight,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said about the victory. “Especially in the first half, I thought they were the more physical team after the first six minutes of the game. It really tested us. I think in the second half we showed very good perseverance. “We tried to step it up on the defensive end. The match didn’t open straight away but we held on. This group that started the fourth quarter really ignited the rest of the game. I thought it was a good game for us, good resilience from the team and a good test. OKC went on a 12-3 run to build a 19-point lead with four minutes remaining. The Thunder went the rest of the way to earn a double-digit win over the short-handed Jazz. “We want to be a 48-minute team and we want to be a team where any unit, at any time, can get into a little hustle like that,” Daigneault said of the fourth quarter.
The Thunder shot 49% from the field and made 10 of 34 (29.4%) from 3. They made 23 of 29 from the free throw line. They distributed 29 assists on 43 baskets. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren combined for 66 points on 60% shooting. The seven-foot rookie played through contact and hit hard on some of his lobs. “His nose is literally in every play,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Holmgren. Daigneault added that his only physical concern is that most of the punches usually land on Holmgren’s head: “Other than that, he’s a pretty tough guy. He eats the punches. » It was another efficient 30-point outing for Gilgeous-Alexander. He finished with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. He shot 2 of 4 from 3 and made 5 of 6 from the free throw line. It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s 50th 30-plus point of the season, which has only been achieved by four other players in the last 35 seasons: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Tracy McGrady .
Background feeds
The Raptors suck. With key players like Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley sidelined, the roster talent pool has all but dried up. A stark illustration of their plight was evident in Wednesday’s sad situation. 123-89 loss to the Sacramento Kings, where a makeshift lineup of Jahmi’us Ramsey, Jordan Nwora, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jalen McDaniels and Jontay Porter closed out the first quarter. Looking ahead, the future makeup of the team remains uncertain, with only Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji appearing secure in their positions for next season. Although Dick and Agbaji could compete for starting roles, their readiness and overall team depth raise questions about their suitability. As for Gary Trent Jr. and Jordan Nwora, both facing unrestricted free agency, their return appears likely, although Trent’s status remains somewhat ambiguous. Meanwhile, decisions weigh on players like Bruce Brown and Jalen McDaniels, whose performances have not justified their contracts, and others like Freeman-Liberty, whose future with the team remains uncertain. With several free agents and limited roster spots, Toronto faces tough decisions as it navigates the offseason, looking to rebuild in a difficult landscape.
As the race to the bottom intensifies, the NBA’s worst teams struggle in ways that are almost absurd. Teams like Washington, Detroit, Portland and Memphis all went winless last week, while the Toronto Raptors are approaching three weeks without a win. Toronto has failed to make significant progress in the league’s reverse rankings, sitting just a half-game behind the Grizzlies for the sixth-worst record and a crucial nearly 46% chance of retaining its first-round pick . Looking ahead, Toronto faces a daunting schedule with just four games against non-playoff teams, including two matchups each against the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets, where they could find themselves as underdogs, particularly if players Key players like Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett remain sidelined. Conversely, the Grizzlies have a slightly more favorable schedule, with four games against the Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, although the majority of their remaining matchups are against playoff contenders. Despite Memphis’ recent performance and the return of key players like Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., Toronto’s hopes of closing the gap and securing a higher draft pick rest on slim margins, the most likely outcome placing them in sixth or seventh place in the rankings. draft night, banking on favorable lottery odds to secure their future.
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Best Bets
Full Game Side Bet
Rating:
Given the Raptors’ 31-38 record against the spread this season. This trend suggests that the Thunder, with their impressive 39-28-1 ATS record, are in a favorable position to cover such a large point spread. Additionally, the Raptors’ offensive woes, exacerbated by numerous injuries to key players, have left them severely depleted and struggling to generate scoring opportunities that have led to eight straight losses. In contrast, the Thunder have been on a roll lately with three straight wins and leading the hyper-competitive West, buoyed by stellar performances from their star duo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. While the Thunder should capitalize on the Raptors’ offensive struggles and continue their winning streak, getting them to -15.5 points presents an interesting opportunity for bettors.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -15.5
Total choice of the complete game
Rating:
Despite the Raptors’ offensive struggles, the Thunder’s high-flying offense more than makes up for it. With a plus/minus record of 36-29-3 overall this season, including a solid 19-13-1 record on the road, the Thunder have consistently shown the ability to contribute in high-scoring games regardless or his opponent. Additionally, their plus/minus record of 26-19-3 in wins this season highlights their propensity to exceed scoring expectations, especially when they win. Third in points per game (PPG) and first in three-point percentage (3P%) in the entire NBA, the Thunder have a powerful offensive arsenal capable of putting up points in batches. Given these trends and the Thunder’s offensive firepower, taking the Over at 228.5 points in this game seems like a favorable bet.
Prediction: Over 228.5
