Sports Betting Preview and Prediction – Toronto Raptors at Oklahoma City Thunder

March 8, 2015 by Arnold Mcdougal

“Between the Chalk”

7:00 PM ET, March 8, 2015
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

The struggling Toronto Raptors (38-24, 28-33-1 ATS) will be in tough tonight as they play the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-28, 30-30-2 ATS) at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoman City. The Raps will need to keep close tabs on Russell Westbrook who has been on a tear recently. Agents using Premier Per Head PPH Online Bookie Software have the Thunder 6-point home favorites with the total at 212½.

The Raptors have lost 6 of their last 7 games, their most recent a SU and ATS loss in Charlotte on Friday night 103-94, where they went in as 1.5-point road dogs. DeMar DeRozan led the Raps with 30 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block, while Kyle Lowry had a strong game with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Thunder last played in Chicago on Thursday, when Pay Per Head agents using local bookie software had OKC a 1.5-point road favorite, only to lose 108-105 as E’Twaun Moore hit a late 3-pointer to give the Bulls the lead and eventual win.

Moore finished with 19 points off the bench and added 4 boards, 2 steals and a block. Nikola Mirotic, also off the bench, led the Bulls in scoring, netting 26 points with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Russell Westbrook scored 43 in the loss, to extend his streak of scoring 40 or more points to 3 games, although his 8 rebounds and 7 assists ended his triple-double streak at four. Serge Ibaka chipped in with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block.

This is the last of two meetings between these two, as they met early in the season on November 4th in Toronto. The Raps won that one 100-88, narrowly beating the 11.5-point online sports betting spread. DeRozan led the Raps with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Ibaka led the Thunder, who were without Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, scoring 25 and added 11 boards and 2 assists. The Thunder started the game with only eight active players and finished with six, after losing Perry Jones with a knee injury and Sebastian Telfair by ejection for a flagrant-2 foul with 1:57 remaining.

Despite the Raptors’ recent woes, they still have a 12-game lead atop the Atlantic Division and are currently the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. They are 3-7 in their last 10 overall, and are 1-5 in their last 6 on the road, with their only win coming against the 76ers (14-49).

The Thunder are right on the playoff bubble as the 8th seed in the tough Western Conference with the New Orleans Pelicans nipping at their heels. OKC are heading in the right direction though, winning 11 of their last 15 online sports betting games overall and all of their last 6 at home.

Bettors using sites for local bookies like Premier Per Head PPH Online Bookie Software placing action on the number watched the total go OVER in 4 of the Raps last 5 games overall and on the road. Moreover, the total has gone OVER in all of the Thunders’ last 5.

However, when the Thunder and Raptors play each other, Pay Per Head agents have seen the total go UNDER in 6 of the last 7 and 5 of the last 6 when they play each other in Oklahoma.

The Thunder, 9-3 SU and ATS in their last 12, and the Raptors, 1-7 SU and ATS in their last 8, are heading in opposite directions. Toronto will need some help around DeRozan tonight if they expect to beat OKC. With the Raps recent defensive collapse, giving up an average of 108.4 points in their last 5, and Russell Westbrook tearing it up, the Oklahoma City Thunder will continue to inch close to securing a online sports betting playoff spot tonight.