The Phoenix Suns (48-10) travel to Paycom Center Thursday to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-40). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Suns vs. Thunder odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Suns entered the All-Star break with the league’s best record but may have headwinds in keeping it as All-Star G Chris Paul is set to be sidelined at least six weeks with a broken thumb. Paul is currently the league leader in assists per game (10.7).
The Suns rank fourth in points per game (113.7) and sixth in opponents’ points per game (105.5). They’re 32-26 against the spread (ATS) on the season and are 13-8 ATS as road favorites.
Thunder star G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not show up on the injury report despite that he missed weeks leading up to the All-Star break. The Thunder are the second-best covering team in the NBA at 35-19-4 ATS and are 14-8-4 as home underdogs.
The return of SGA will be helpful as OKC’s struggles have been offensive. The Thunder rank 30th in points per game (101.2), field goal percentage (41.8) and three-point field goal percentage (31.3).
Suns at Thunder odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:37 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Suns -700 (bet $700 to win $100) | Thunder +470 (bet $100 to win $470)
- Against the spread (ATS): Suns -10.5 (-110) | Thunder +10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 218.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Suns at Thunder key injuries
Suns
- G Chris Paul (thumb) out
- G Cameron Payne (wrist) out
Thunder
- G Lu Dort (shoulder) out
- G Ty Jerome (hip) out
- F Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (foot) out
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Suns at Thunder odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Suns 106, Thunder 100
Money line
PASS.
The Suns are the better teams in the league even with Paul sidelined but a -700 tag is too rich for a regular-season favorite. While the Thunder are better at home they still aren’t playable against Phoenix at +470, although I do expect them to keep it close.
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Against the spread
“LEAN” to the THUNDER +10.5 (-110).
The Suns are going to re-learn what life before Paul was like. C Deandre Ayton, F Cameron Johnson and F Jae Crowder are going to have to turn into playmakers to help G Devin Booker handle the scoring load.
The Suns’ scoring should take a hit though with Payne still sidelined as well. Similarly, the Thunder will have the second-best scorer (SGA) back on the court alongside standout rookie G Josh Giddey.
The Thunder have the eighth-ranked defensive rating in the NBA, and that’s going to help keep this game close.
The Thunder also have a league-worst 102 offensive rating, but that jumps to 104.5 when SGA is on the court. His return will make all the difference and should help the Thunder immensely.
Over/Under
BET on the UNDER 218.5 (-112).
While SGA should help the Thunder offense, there still isn’t much playmaking there, and Dort being sidelined certainly doesn’t help their cause. As for Phoenix, figuring out life without Paul may be easier said than done.
Paul hasn’t missed a game this season but did miss two key playoffs games against the Los Angeles Clippers last season in which the Suns scored 120 and 104, the former of which they shot 55% from the field.
The Thunder have been more prone to miss the total and have gone 24-33-1 O/U on the season and 12-14 O/U as home underdogs, while the Suns are just 28-29-1 O/U this season.
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