Sports Betting Preview and Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies

April 3, 2015 by Arnold Mcdougal

“Sports Betting Preview and Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies -Between the Chalk”

8:00 PM ET, April 3, 2015
FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

With only seven games remaining on their schedule, and narrowly holding on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-33, 37-36-2 ATS) need to finish the season strong starting tonight as they visit the Memphis Grizzlies (51-24, 35-38-2) at FedEx Forum in Memphis.

Experts using bookie software such as Premier Per Head PPH Internet bookmaking software currently have the Grizzlies 6-point home favorites. Bettors using sites for local bookies trying to cash in on total betting know Memphis is 32-41-2 against the number while Oklahoma City is 36-38-1, with the total set at 205 for tonight’s game.

Oklahoma City comes into tonight’s game with a 1½-game lead over New Orleans for the 8th and final playoff spot with four of seven remaining games versus playoff teams (Memphis, Houston, San Antonio and Portland).

With Russell Westbrook in the discussion of taking home MVP honors, the Thunder need to start worrying more about defense after giving up more than 115 points in 6 of their last 9.

OKC last played at home on Wednesday night against Dallas; a crazy 135-131 SU and ATS win as 3-point dogs for the Mavericks. The Thunder had three players score 30 points or more, Anthony Morrow (32), Russell Westbrook (31) and Enes Kanter (30), and still couldn’t pull out the win.

Kanter also had a game high 16 rebounds, while Pay Per Head agents watched Westbrook haul down 11 boards with 11 assists in the loss.

The Mavs were led by Monta Ellis’ 26 points, who had seven players in double digit scoring in the offensive attack that saw them shoot 61.5% from the field, the highest percentage the Thunder have allowed this season.

Memphis is already assured a playoff berth, currently 3rd in the West, 9-games up on the Thunder. The Grizzlies last played host to Sacramento on Monday night and won SU and ATS 97-83 as 10½-point home favorites.

Mike Conley led the Grizz with 18 points who added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Marc Gasol led all players with 11 rebounds with 8 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and one USA online sports betting block.

Tonight’s matchup is the fourth and final regular season game between Oklahoma City and Memphis, with the Grizzlies winning the first two and the Thunder winning the last SU and ATS on February 11th 105-89 as 4½-point home favorites.

Thunder supporters using sites for local bookies know they are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 versus the West, however they are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 on the road against a team with a winning home record.

‘Pay Per Head site’ such as Premier Per Head PPH local bookie software online taking bets on the Grizzlies have witnessed them go 4-9 ATS in their last 13 played against the West and 3-8 in their last 11 following an ATS win.

OVER/UNDER trends you might be interested in include the Thunder have played to the OVER in 9 of their last 11 road games and the OVER is 19-7-1 in their last 27 overall. When looking at the Grizzlies, they have played to the USA online sports betting UNDER in 20 of their last 26 home games and the UNDER is 25-9-1 in Memphis’ last 35.

Bettors using sites for local bookies looking at the recent head-to-head matchups between the two see the home team is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings, while the Thunder and the favorite are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Oklahoma City really need this game to keep hold of their playoff spot and I’m sure Coach Scott Brooks has been drawing up a new defensive strategy after allowing 135 to Dallas.

Memphis has played well at home this year (28-9) while the Thunder hasn’t done well on the road (15-23) recently, losing 4 of their last 5, with injuries playing a large part. Expect a fight from both tonight with OKC covering but Memphis holding out for the US mobile sports gambling sites win.