The Golden State Warriors (3-0) will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (0-3) at Paycom Center Tuesday in a battle of one of the best versus one of the worst. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Warriors vs. Thunder odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Warriors have downed the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings to start the season. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is leading the way with an average of over 30 points per game as the Warriors enter as heavy favorites Tuesday.
However, against an elite group of up-and-coming guards including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, the Thunder will be able to put up a challenge and should actually match up pretty well.
It’s been an ugly start for Oklahoma City though, having lost all three games by 12 or more points. We’ll see if they can snap at least that streak at home against the West’s best.
Warriors at Thunder odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Warriors -600 (bet $600 to win $100) | Thunder +420 (bet $100 to win $420)
- Against the spread (ATS): Warriors -9.5 (-110) | Thunder +9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Warriors at Thunder key injuries
Warriors
- SF Klay Thompson (Achilles) out
- C James Wiseman (meniscus) out
Thunder
- PF Derrick Favors (out) rest
Warriors at Thunder odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Warriors 112, Thunder 103
Money line
PASS on the money line. Upsets happen in the NBA. Teams don’t make shots.
Two-time MVP G Stephen Curry has had off games. With that in mind, -600 is far from a good value, and I’m also not hanging one on the winless, inexperienced home side.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the THUNDER +9.5 (-110) despite the books giving it some juice.
The Thunder haven’t played well this season, but with their defensive-minded backcourt they should match up very well against a team that’s dependent on Curry and SG Jordan Poole.
Alexander is a superstar in the making and should be able to have his way against a smaller Warriors backcourt. SGA stands 6-foot-6 and starts alongside Dort who is 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds.
The Thunder haven’t lost by single digits yet, but at the same time, the Warriors only beat the Kings by 12 for their lone double-digit victory, and that took outscoring them by 10 in the final quarter.
The Warriors are great and should win, but I’d take the Thunder to at least make it a competition. It also seems like the Thunder got a boost, from +9 to +9.5 with Favors out, giving young C Isaiah Roby a chance to shine.
Over/Under
BET on the UNDER 223.5 (-112) as the best bet in this game.
The Thunder are competent defensively and have larger guards, but they have struggled immensely to score They’re shooting the second-worst three-point percentage yet hoisting up the 12th most threes per game.
With former Defensive Player of the Year PF Draymond Green roaming the paint, I’d expect them to continue to struggle offensively.
Golden State has cleared 115 in all three games and had two quarters where it’s scored 38 or more points. Against Oklahoma City the chances of that happening are slim.
I’ll take the Under as this should be a relatively low-scoring, defensive-heavy game. Both teams are 1-2 on the total as well, boding well for the Under to hit.
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