Published Mar 11, 9:51am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 11, 9:51am ET
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Updated Mar 11, 10:03am ET
One of the games on Thursday's NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Boston Celtics. Who has the edge in our Thunder vs Celtics pick?
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| Oklahoma City Thunder | -178 |
| Boston Celtics | +170 |
After an eight-point loss to the Pistons, Oklahoma City has reeled off seven straight wins. This includes a 129-126 victory against the Denver Nuggets.
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The Thunder held a 126-122 lead in the waning moments before Nikola Jokic's 3-pointer, and a free throw from Jamal Murray tied the game at 126. On the ensuing possession, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down a contested 3-point basket, pushing OKC's lead back to three.
Aaron Gordon's desperate heave at the buzzer was off the mark, securing a hard-fought win for the defending champs.
SGA powered the offense with 35 points, 15 boards, and nine dimes. Jaylin Williams registered 29 points and 12 rebounds.
Boston saw its two-game win streak snapped, courtesy of a 125-116 setback against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
The Celtics trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter before Jayson Tatum's fourth and final 3-pointer of the game trimmed the deficit to five. However, the Spurs' Stephon Castle responded with a 3-point basket, enabling the home team to pull away down the stretch.
Derrick White spearheaded the offense with a team-high 34 points, along with seven assists and five rebounds. Tatum added 24 points and five rebounds in this third game back from a ruptured Achilles injury.
Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
OKC has won eight of the previous nine meetings in this series and is 9-1 across its last 10 outings against Atlantic Division opponents. Based on these factors, look for the Thunder to win a close one.
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Pick
OKC Thunder
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