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Betting Line:
Oklahoma City Thunder (-4.5)
Golden State Warriors (+4.5)
Over/Under 198
Game Time 10:35 EST

There are thirteen games slated in the NBA this Friday evening and I chose to feature the very last game on the board because that is where I am finding the most value. To be a successful bettor, one must have an enormous amount of patience and discipline. With twelve games being played prior to this matchup between the Thunder and Warriors, the most difficult thing to do as a bettors is watch all those games tip off without any action, only to wait for your play. It’s a tough thing to do, but it is required if you want to make money in this business.

GAME ANALYSIS:
The Thunder (15-3) come into Oakland, CA riding a five-game winning streak and also boasting the best the record in the league – clearly looking like the number one seed in the Western Conference. Holding the best record in the NBA means you are having success on the road and the Thunder are doing just that, with an NBA best 7-2 record when they play away from Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder’s fast start has not been quite as dominant for the bettors. In fact they own a modest overall record of 10-8 against the spread, a 5-4 record as a road favorite against the spread and a winless 0-2 record as a road favorite between 3.5 to 6 points. These numbers define the reasons why you have to fully evaluate games and factor in all parameters before making a wager.

The Warriors (6-11) are team that is struggling to get wins, but playing OKC at home might be the perfect antidote. Golden State owns a 12-3 record in its last fifteen games at home when playing the Thunder. However, nothing else points to the positive for the Warriors. They have only managed one win in the Western Conference thus far, they have a losing overall against the spread record at 8-9 and as a home dog they only covered once all season. Furthermore, they play very little defense, giving up just about 99 points per game.

WHO TO BE ON?
A game like this is why the NBA is at times so unpredictable. This is a classic David and Goliath type matchup, but yet the Warriors have been dominate against the Thunder at home. Sometimes one team has another teams number regardless of how they are fairing against the rest of the league. Unfortunately for the Warriors, their success will run out tonight as the Thunder will easily cover this cheap 4.5 point spread.

Make your play on the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover the point spread!

SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GAME:
~ Former Thunder player, Nate Robinson has averaged 11 points and five assists since signing with the Warriors on January 4th.
~ Over the last three seasons, the Warriors have covered five of seven games against the Thunder.
~ When these two teams meet OVER the total usually makes for a safe bet.

PREDICTION:
Thunder 109, Warriors 92

PJ Laferla is a practicing freelance writer, professional handicapper, and the founder of SportsInput.com. If you are interested in hiring PJ Laferla for freelance writing or for winning picks against the spread, please submit all inquires to PJ@sportsinput.com.

Betting Line:
Indiana Pacers (+8.5)
Chicago Bulls (-8.5)
Over/Under 184
Game Time 8:05 EST

After Tuesday’s short slate of games, not making any plays, I come into today, featuring a head-to-head matchup out of the Eastern Conference Central, as the rival Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers (the only two teams in the division with winning records) square off against one another at the United Center in Chicago.

GAME ANALYSIS:
The Indiana Pacers (11-5) visit Chicago after being annihilated the night before by the Orlando Magic – losing by 19 points in their own building. Through sixteen games this season, the Pacers have accumulated four of their five loses on the road and at times show signs of inconsistently – winning at Los Angeles and at Boston, but losing at Detroit and at Sacramento. They hold a modest 9-7 overall record against the spread, but on the road they match their win some, lose some road record at 5-5. As an underdog this season they are 2-2, but when they are getting a generous six and a half to nine points they are winless (0-2). One bright spot for the Pacers is they are beating teams with winning records – playing in six of those games, coming away with four wins.

The Chicago Bulls (16-3) come into this matchup riding a four game winning streak – easily picking up point spread covers in three of the games. The Bulls have been dominate this season overall, winning all eight games at home, but they have only managed to cover five of those. However against their own division they are a perfect 3-0 ATS. Chicago plays the best team defense in the league and with reigning MVP Derrick Rose, anything less than a trip to the NBA finals would be a huge disappointment. Their points for and points against ratio is best in the league, topping out a few than 97 points on the offensive side and stifling opponents on the defensive side of the ball, only allowing a super-stingy 85 and change.

WHO TO BET ON?
You can’t overlook what the Pacers have done thus far this season and kudos to them, but we are talking about the Chicago Bulls here. There are a few good teams in this league and even fewer elite teams. The Bulls are certainly the later and even though the Pacers do hold a winning record the vote is still out on them for consideration as a good team. The Bulls come to play every night and for 48 minutes in every game they give it all they got. If the Pacers would have beaten the Magic in indiana last night, I may have felt a little different with my analysis, but they have no momentum in their favor and when playing a team like the Bulls you need all the help you can get. I don’t care how much this line moves, the Bulls blowout the Pacers tonight!

Make your play on the Bulls to cover the point spread!

SOME OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GAME:
~ The Pacers are 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against the Bulls.
~ The Pacers are 0-5 straight up in its last 5 games when playing on the road against the Bulls.
~ The total has gone OVER in all of the Bulls last 5 games.

PREDICTION:
Bulls 98, Pacers 75

PJ Laferla is a practicing freelance writer, professional handicapper, and the founder of SportsInput.com. If you are interested in hiring PJ Laferla for freelance writing or for winning picks against the spread, please submit all inquires to PJ@sportsinput.com.