Wizards Host Red Hot Thunder in Southeast Action
The Oklahoma City Thunder brings their 10 game winning streak to the nation’s capitol tonight to face the Washington Wizards in NBA Southeast Division play. The Thunder rolled over another hot team in the Brooklyn Nets last night in a game so lopsided that superstar Kevin Durant sat out the entire fourth quarter which snapped his streak of 30 point games at 12. He scored 26 points in his 30 minutes of action in the 120-95 thrashing.
The Wizards last played on Wednesday night when they lost on the road at the Los Angeles Clippers 110-103. John Wall scored 19 points and dished 11 assists in that game, but it was not enough as Washington dipped back below .500 at 22-23. Right now in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, the Wizards are in the sixth position which is where they would like to stay. Sixth spot means they draw the Toronto Raptors in the first round instead of the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers. The Nets are 1.5 games behind the Wizards thanks to the Thunder’s win last night.
The Atlanta Hawks host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight after thumping the Philadelphia 76ers 125-99 last night. Atlanta ran their record to 24-21 which is good for the fourth spot right now. That spot is also important because that is last spot that holds home court advantage in the opening round. Right now they are matched up with the fifth place Chicago Bulls who they hold a one game lead over.
Minnesota sits in the ninth spot in the Western Conference at 23-23 which is 2.5 games behind the eighth place Memphis Grizzlies. They cannot afford to lose too many more games, especially the close ones which they seem to have a mental block.
The Southeast leading Heat takes on the New York Knicks tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks have won four in a row and have been playing exceptionally well lately. they still need to keep it up though as they are 19-27 and sit in the ninth spot in the Easter playoff race, one game behind the Charlotte Bobcats. The Knicks though seem to play well against Miami. A win tonight at the Garden would be a big one for their confidence going on the road to face the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
Miami will be trying to get back on track after getting spanked by the Thunder is a game they once led 22-4. The Heat losing a game like that has to give them a little bit of doubt. To then lose to the Knicks might really start their heads shaking.
BetDSI has the odds on tonight’s games:
Oklahoma City at Washington– OKC is -4.5 -110 and the Wizards are +4.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is the Thunder -190 and the Wizards +160. We learned our lesson last night picking against the Thunder. If we had gotten that one right we would have gone three for three. We are going with OKC -4.5 -110 tonight.
Minnesota at Atlanta- The Timberwolves are +3.5 -110 and the Hawks are -3.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Minnesota +140 and Atlanta -165. We like the Hawks to beat the spread in this one as the T-Wolves struggle to win close ones. The Hawks are one of the games we got right last night too. Atlanta -3.5 -110.
Miami at New York- The Heat is -5 -110 and the Knicks are +5 -110 ATS. Moneyline has Miami -210 and the Knicks +180. We are going to go with the Knicks in the upset tonight. Take New York +180.
