Los Angeles Lakers vs
Oklahoma City ThunderPredictions & Preview

Oklahoma City Thunder Set to Face Los Angeles Lakers in Highly Anticipated Showdown

The Los Angeles Lakers (47-30) will be looking for their second consecutive win as they visit the Paycom Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (64-13) on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM ET. The Lakers recently defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 124-108, while the Thunder are coming off a 125-111 loss to the Houston Rockets. Los Angeles has a 7-3 record in their last 10 games against Oklahoma City, but the Thunder currently lead the three-game season series 1-0. Oklahoma City is the favorite in this matchup, opening at -9 with the line remaining unchanged. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Lakers vs. Thunder prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Lakers +282 | Thunder -350
• Spread: Lakers +9 (-110) | Thunder -9 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 233 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Oklahoma City will win straight-up is 78%.

Los Angeles vs Oklahoma City Stats

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from a loss to Golden State with a win over the Pelicans in their last game, marking their third win in four games. They currently hold the third spot in the Western Conference standings, trailing Houston by 3.5 games. Los Angeles averages 113.2 points per game and scored 124 in their last outing, shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. Luka Doncic led the team with 35 points, followed by Austin Reaves with 30 points and LeBron James with 27. Defensively, the Lakers are giving up 112.3 points per game and rank 14th in defensive efficiency. They have questions regarding the availability of Rui Hachimura (undisclosed) and Bronny James (illness) for their upcoming game. In terms of power ranking, the Lakers are placed 15th and are ranked 19th in offense and 12th in defense. They have a record of 47-30 for the season and are hitting nearly 48 percent of their field goals and 79 percent of their free throws. Defensively, they allow an average of 46.34 percent field goals and 35.48 percent three-pointers.

Oklahoma City Thunder Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder recently had their 11-game winning streak snapped by the Rockets. Despite this setback, they still hold the best record in the league and will look to extend their lead over Cleveland with a win on Sunday. In their last game, the Thunder scored 111 points, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. Jalen Williams led the team with 33 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 22 points and Chet Holmgren with 20 points. Defensively, Oklahoma City leads the league in defensive efficiency, with opponents shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range. They also average 5.8 blocks and 10.4 steals per game. Three players, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Jaylin Williams, are questionable for the upcoming game. The Thunder rank second in power rankings, fourth in offense, and second in defense, averaging 119.77 points per game and allowing 107.10 points per game. They excel in shooting percentages and rebounding, and have strong defensive stats as well.

Oklahoma City Thunder Surging While Los Angeles Lakers Struggle

The Oklahoma City Thunder have demonstrated impressive performance by winning 11 of their last 12 games, while the Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a decline with six losses in their last nine games. The Thunder's efficiency in shooting, making over 48 percent of their shots in the last three games, gives them a clear advantage over the Lakers, who shot 45 percent in their recent games. Additionally, Oklahoma City's ability to locate open players, strong rebounding capabilities with an average of over 10 offensive rebounds per game, and diligence in ball protection contribute to their success in second-chance scoring and defensive strategy. Conversely, the Lakers struggle defensively, allowing over 114 points per game on the road, implying they may encounter difficulties in containing the Thunder's offense. Therefore, it is recommended to favor Oklahoma City to cover the spread in the upcoming matchup.

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