Published Apr 1, 10:43am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 1, 10:43am ET
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Updated Apr 1, 11:05am ET
One of the games on Thursday's NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Los Angeles Lakers. Who has the edge in our Thunder vs Lakers pick?
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| Oklahoma City Thunder | -6.5 (-114) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +6.5 (-109) |
After a 119-109 loss to the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City has responded with three straight wins, including a 114-110 win against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
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The Thunder rallied from a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter before eventually outscoring Detroit 13-9 in the overtime frame. Not only is OKC the first team to win 60 games this season, it is also the first time the franchise has accumulated 60 wins in back-to-back seasons.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did most of the heavy lifting, finishing with 47 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 12-for-19 shooting from the field and 21-for-25 from the charity stripe. This marked the 136th straight game in which he has scored at least 20 points.
The Lakers have won four straight, with three of them coming by double-digit margins. Their latest outing was a 127-113 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Los Angeles trailed 34-32 through the first 12 minutes. But a sizeable 78-39 scoring edge over the middle two quarters turned an early two-point deficit into an insurmountable 110-83 advantage heading into the final frame.
All five starters reached double figures for the Lakers. Luka Doncic, who returned to the rotation following a one-game suspension, scored a team-high 42 points, handed out 12 assists, and grabbed five rebounds. Deandre Ayton chipped in with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
The Thunder have won four of the previous five meetings in this series and are undefeated in their last 10 home games. OKC wins a close one.
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Pick
Oklahoma City Thunder
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