The NBA's long 82-game regular season certainly has its lulls and duds, but it also provides the occasional high-profile matchup that garners the most attention. On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seeds in each conference, will play for the second time in eight days.
OKC is a three-point favorite to win the championship a week after its winning streak ended at 15 with a loss to Cleveland.
The Thunder hold the NBA's best ATS record at 27-9-3. A coverage percentage of .750 is unusually high. By comparison, the single-season best over the past 10 years is the Memphis Grizzlies' batting average of .628 in the 2021-22 season.
Cavaliers vs. Thunder odds
| team | spread | money line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| cavaliers | +1.5 (-112) | +105 | 232.5 or higher (-110) |
| thunder | -1.5 (-108) | -125 | Less than 232.5 (-110) |
Cavaliers vs. Thunder predictions
7:30pm ET (TNT)
The Cavs have exceeded expectations with a 27-12 ATS record (.692) as well. It's extremely rare for a team with the two best overall records in the league to also have the two best coverage percentages.
“Obviously, both teams are very talented and that speaks to the coaching and the system that brings value to the point spread,” pro bettor Erin Linning told Only Players via text message, adding that there is a possibility of forfeiting the game. It was also shown that the “There are easier fish to catch than this game, but the first half is tipped over 120.”
I'm rooting for the Thunder and scoring points. Both teams have absolute power, but considering their loss to Cleveland last week, I favor Oklahoma City's desperation and focus. Some may see that as a shallow view, but these factors are usually the difference-makers over a long season.
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“The Thunder's resume has gotten a little stronger lately, with two convincing wins over the Knicks, the Celtics, and the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers lost to the Tyrese Haliburton-less Pacers. They beat the Mavs without Kyrie. [Irving] And Luke [Doncic]” said Linning.
Rinning shot over .231 in last week's meeting, scoring 84 points in the third quarter to lead Cleveland to a 129-122 win at home. I'm hoping for a rematch with a lower score, but not enough to bet on the total.
Pick: Thunder -1.5 (-110, DraftKings)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Doug Kezirian is a contributor to the New York Post and currently serves as chief content officer at sports betting media company Only Players. Doug has over 20 years of experience in the betting field, including 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He is also a rare record of success – 14th place in the 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas Supercontest ($37,000) and a top 10 finish in the 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58,000). twice and also made headlines for his $297,000 win regarding the 2021 NFL Draft.
