Odds via Lucky Rebel
Moneyline: Spurs (-150) | Thunder (+130)
Spread: Spurs -3 (-115) | Thunder +3 (-105)
Total: 220 Over (-108) | Under (-112)
Thunder vs Spurs Game 6 Preview
Despite not having Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder still found a way to lay the hammer down in Game 5 with a 127-114 victory.
Oklahoma City also didn't have those two players available in Game 4, and they lost 103-82. The biggest difference between those games was the location. Naturally, both home teams cruised to victories with the roars of their fanbase behind them. Will the Thunder be capable of pulling off another hobbled victory, but this time in a hostile, road environment?
Mitchell has already been ruled out, and while Williams is currently questionable, it appears he may be trending in the wrong direction.
Of course, that's far from ideal for the Thunder, who are looking to avoid a Game 7 scenario where all bets are off. But what OKC can still hang its hat on is its depth and experience. It's the same synopsis I wrote about heading into Game 5. The Thunder are averaging an impressive 42 bench points per game this postseason, which ranks first, while the Spurs are tallying 32 per contest, which ranks sixth.
That next-man-up mentality is a major reason why Oklahoma City has been so successful. They play extremely well off one another and truly understand their respective roles. But will that still be enough tonight?
When you look back at what transpired in Game 1, I attribute much of that result to the classic rest-versus-rust situation. The Spurs had just wrapped up their series against the Timberwolves and carried momentum into Oklahoma City against a Thunder team that had been off the court for a week. Even then, OKC was still in position to win until Victor Wembanyama buried a massive 3-pointer from another area code to tie the game and eventually help lead San Antonio to the upset.
The other Thunder loss, as noted, came in Game 4. That was the first game OKC had to play without both Mitchell and Williams, and the adjustment was clearly significant. Still, it didn't take long for the defending champs to regroup and bounce back with the same crew in Game 5.
Look, it would make sense for the Spurs to respond at home, but I still find it incredibly difficult to fade the Thunder. I liked them in the last game when we broke down the matchup, and since we're getting another solid price on them for this game, I'd have to gravitate in their direction once again.
The Thunder are still the best team in basketball, and it shouldn't shock anyone to see them play like it again tonight.
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