Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Odds


Opening Line: Phoenix +6.5 / Oklahoma City -6.5 O/U 201.5

Time: 8 PM EST Tuesday February 23, 2010 on FSOKHD

Tonight in a Western Conference match up of 2 of the hottest teams in the league the Oklahoma City thunder host the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder have won 9 straight games and now only trail the Denver Nuggets by 3 games in the Northwest Conference. The Suns have won 2 in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

This season Oklahoma City is 16-10 at home and 33-21 ATS and Phoenix is 14-16 on the road and 30-26-1 ATS.

The Thunder are in 5th place in the West and lead the 6th place Suns by only a half game.

Over the past few years the suns have had the Thunder's number, but Oklahoma City beat the Suns 117-113 earlier this season, which snapped their 9-game losing streak to Phoenix.

One of the main reasons the Thunder are in the playoff picture is the play of Kevin Durant (29.8 ppg). He is the 2nd leading scorer in the league and has scored at least 25 points in 28 straight games. That streak is the 2nd longest since a guy named Jordan had a 40-game streak back in the mid 1980's.

The Suns' defense is still allowing the 3rd most points in the league, but in their last 2 games, both wins, they have held opponents under 90 points. They will have to play good D tonight against a Thunder offense that is averaging just under 105 ppg in their 9-game winning streak.

The Thunder have a well-balanced offense with SF Durant, PG Russell Westbrook (16.4 ppg), and PF Jeff Green (14.6 ppg).

Luckily for the Thunder they do not have to face Suns' PG Steve Nash (17.6 ppg 11.2 assists per game), who is out for this game with an injury.

Amare Stoudemire (21.3 ppg 8.8 rpg) has stayed with the Suns after being the big name talked about in several trades and the Suns are glad they kept him, as he has been playing great averaging 25.2 ppg and 11.6 rpg in his last 9 games.

Phoenix has the highest scoring offense in the league and tonight will be facing an Oklahoma City defense that has held 26 straight opponents to under 50% shooting.

Phoenix is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog, and has an Under record of 5-0 in their last 5 road games.

Oklahoma City is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games, 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games against teams with a winning record, and has an Under record of 19-7 in their last 26 games against teams with a winning record.

In 10 of the last 13 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Under.

Our Selection : The public is totally one sided on this game, betting with both fists on the Suns. As usual, we're going to go against the public perception in this game. Phoenix will be without all world gaurd Steve Nash in this game playing on the road versus a team that has won 9 straight games. The betting line on this game opened at 7, but was instantly bet down to 6.5. We think that we'll get a 6 on this game before tip off and we would still play this up to 7. Here's a key stat for you. In their last 15 home wins Oklahoma City has won 13 of the 15 games by more than 7 points.

Take the Thunder -6.5.


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