Thunder’s Russell Westbrook Looks to Rebound from Poor Performance
On Wednesday night, NBA action tips off at Chesapeake Energy Arena when the New York Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. The current line has Oklahoma City favored by 7 points with the over/under point total on 218.5.
Entering the game, New York has an overall record of 23-33 straight up and 30-26 against the spread. On the road, the Knicks are 9-18 SU and 14-13 ATS. Oklahoma City on the season is 31-25 SU and 30-25-1 ATS. At home, the Thunder is 19-8 SU and 17-9-1 ATS.
The Thunder is coming off a poor performance on Monday where they lost to Washington 120-98. Russell Westbrook scored just 17 points in the game for Oklahoma City. The Thunder missed 24 straight shots during the game to set a new NBA record for futility.
The 17 points by Westbrook was his second lowest total of the season in Oklahoma City’s second consecutive loss.
On Sunday, New York beat San Antonio to snap a losing streak of four games and looks to win consecutive games for the first time since December 20 and 22. However, the Knicks since that point are 7-20 and have had to play with trade rumors and tension.
Mostly notable is the feud between team president Phil Jackson and leading scorer Carmelo Anthony and the possible trade of the star.
The trade deadline is February 23 and this weekend is the All-Star game so Anthony is looking for a reprieve for a few days.
Prior to Monday’s loss to Washington, the Thunder lost on Saturday to Golden State in Kevin Durant’s first return to Chesapeake Energy Arena since signing with the Warriors. Oklahoma City played poorly trailing at one point by 34 points.
The Thunder beat the Knicks November 28 by 9 points with Westbrook registering a triple-double.
Thunder power forward Domantas Sabonis has hit just 12 of his 48 shots in February across 7 games.
Joakim Noah remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Noah has missed four straight games for the Knicks.
New York is 1-4 ATS in its past 5 games played.
Oklahoma City is 3-0-1 ATS in its past 4 games against Atlantic division opponents.
Oklahoma City is 8-2 ATS in its past 10 games played at home.
Prediction: Oklahoma City is playing better than the Knicks, even though they lost two straight. Russell Westbrook does not have poor performances back to back. Lean here toward the Thunder covering at home.
