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NBA Playoffs Betting Preview- Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies
Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST on ESPN
Point Spread: Memphis -3 ½
Money Line: Thunder +135, Grizzlies -155
Over/Under: 200 ½
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The best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies shifts to the FedEx Forum for Saturday’s Game 3 with the series tied at one game apiece. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Oklahoma City bounced back from an ugly 114-101 loss in Game 1 of this series with a solid 111-102 victory this past Tuesday night. It was favored at home by 6 ½ points in each game and the total went ‘over’ in both as well. The Thunder are now 2-3 against the spread at home in the playoffs and 1-0-1 ATS on the road.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have picked up where they left off in the Denver series with a combined 62 points in Sunday’s loss and 50 points in Game 2. They averaged 56.2 points in the five games against Denver in round one, which accounted for close to 60 percent of Oklahoma City’s scoring. Durant shot 44 percent from the floor on Tuesday night, which was under his 48 percent postseason average. Westbrook went 9-for-20 after shooting just 39 percent in Game 1.
The Thunder had a huge edge against Denver under the boards but have been outrebounded by Memphis in the first two games of this series 83-76. They have done a great job from three-point range so far; converting on 14-of-28 attempts and have hit 80 percent of their foul shots.
Memphis was able to carry the momentum of its six-game series win in round one over No.1 seed San Antonio into Game 1 of the conference semifinals, but finally hit a wall in Tuesday’s loss. It was outscored 28-17 in the first quarter and never seemed to fully get back on track from that point on. The Grizzlies are now 3-1-1 ATS on the road in the playoffs, but still a perfect 3-0 ATS at home. They have won six of eight games ATS as an underdog.
Zach Rudolph was held to 15 points in Game 2 after lighting things up with a game-high 34 points this past Sunday. He leads the team in scoring in the postseason with an average of 22.3 points a game. Mike Conley is the second leading scorer with 15.6 points and Marc Gasol leads in rebounds with 12.1.
The Grizzlies are shooting 47.4 percent from the floor but just 34.1 percent from three-point range. They have been even more deadly than the Thunder from the free-throw line; converting on over 82 percent of their attempts. Memphis turned the ball over 16 times in Game 2 after committing just seven in the first game.
Oklahoma City is 4-0-1 ATS in its last five games on the road and the total has gone ‘over’ in six of its last 10 games. Memphis is 7-2 ATS in its last nine home games and the total has gone ‘over’ in nine of its last 11 games.
The odds makers have the Memphis Grizzlies as a -3.5 point favorite with an over/under of 200.5.
Check out the latest NBA Basketball Playoff Odds here.
Prediction: Head-to-head, the Grizzlies have won four of six games this season both straight-up and ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in all six games. This series seems destined to go the full seven games, but stick with Memphis on Saturday night to gain the early edge with a win that covers the 3 ½-point spread.
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Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends:
Oklahoma City is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
Oklahoma City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Oklahoma City is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma City’s last 5 games when playing Memphis
Memphis Grizzlies Betting Trends:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Memphis’s last 5 games
Memphis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Memphis is 7-1-1 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Memphis’s last 12 games at home
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