Oklahoma City Thunder (40-17) vs. San Antonio Spurs (11-47)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 2/29/24 – On Thursday night, Oklahoma City Thunder will face San Antonio Spurs in an exciting NBA free picks battle that promises a riveting encounter as both teams look to extend their dominance of their respective leagues and create upsets of their own. Both clubs come into this matchup from different places within their standings’ spectrums – giving an accurate picture of seasonal campaigns as well as potential future trajectory.
The Thunder are one of the highest scoring teams in the league, averaging 121.5 points per game. They rank 3rd in field goal percentage (50.2%) and have strong offensive weapons like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.2 points per game. However, the Thunder can be vulnerable on defense at times, giving up over 112 points per contest.
Meanwhile, the Spurs offense has sputtered for much of the year. They average just 112.1 points per game, which is 5th worst in the NBA. Defensively, the Spurs allow the 8th most points in the league. With a minus-5.3 average scoring margin, the Spurs have struggled to stay competitive in most games. However, the emergence of #1 overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama has been a bright spot.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 2/29/24 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 8:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Frost Bank Center |
| TV: | KENS |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG) vs. Victor Wembanyama (C)
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this game averaging 34.5 minutes and 31.2 points per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. He also contributes 6.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game against just 2.2 turnovers. Gilegous-Alexander is an efficient scorer and playmaker for the Thunder. He can create his own shot as well as set up teammates.
On the other side, Victor Wembanyama leads the struggling Spurs in points (20.7) and rebounds (10.1) in 28.5 minutes per game. The 7’3″ rookie also averages 1.3 steals and an impressive 3.3 blocks per contest. However, he turns the ball over 3.4 times a night with only 3.3 assists. Wembanyama is still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA game. But his rare combination of size, length and athleticism at the center position causes problems for opposing teams on both ends.
This matchup pits Gilgeous-Alexander’s slick offensive attack against Wembanyama’s towering defensive presence in the paint. Both are critical to their team’s success and match up well skillset-wise. But the more seasoned Gilgeous-Alexander likely has the edge in this point guard vs center battle.
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this game are yet to be determined, but given the Thunder’s recent form and the Spurs’ struggles, it’s likely the Thunder will be the favorites. Bettors will be keenly watching the spread and moneyline as they become available, looking for value in what could be an unpredictable game.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends
The Thunder come into this matchup hot, having won 5 straight games overall and 5 straight games against the spread. They have also been strong on the road against the spread this season at 16-11. However, betting the over has been profitable when betting Thunder games recently. The over has hit in 2 of the Thunder’s last 5 contests and in 15 of their last 29 road games.
San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends
Meanwhile, the Spurs have struggled to string together wins, going just 1-4 straight up in their last 5 outings. They are 3-2 against the spread over that same sample. For the season, San Antonio has been mediocre against the number at home with a 15-17 ATS record. The under has been the play when betting Spurs games lately, hitting in 1 of their previous 5 games and in 15 of their last 26 at Frost Bank Center.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs 2/29/24 Betting Picks
Given the analysis and betting trends, the Thunder seem poised to continue their winning ways, leveraging their offensive firepower and defensive solidity. The Spurs, while underdogs, have the potential to challenge, especially with Wembanyama’s influence.
This matchup based on performances and key player impacts suggests a possible Thunder win but with strong competition from Spurs; though records suggest otherwise; the game may end up close and exciting!
The prediction takes into account both teams’ offensive efficiency and struggles to contain high-powered offenses, but always be wary when considering multi-handicapper tips and picks, given potential line shifts or last minute developments that could alter these predictions.
Free Pick and Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 118, San Antonio Spurs 105.