After 14 games of NBA action took place throughout yesterday’s Saturday slate, we are left with just one game of action as the NFL Playoffs step to center stage of the sports world. At 6:00 p.m. ET, the Portland Trail Blazers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
These two teams sit at nearly opposite ends of the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder now holds the best record in the NBA sitting at 36-8 on the season and at the top of the Western Conference. They will be looking to bounce back from a 121-115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. Chet Holmgren is inching closer to making a return to the court, but remains out due to his hip injury. Lu Dort has been ruled out of this game due to knee soreness while Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell remain out.
Although the Portland Trail Blazers have shown some signs of life in recent games, they ultimately sit in 13th place in the Western Conference with a 17-28 record. Portland is an encouraging 5-5 across its past ten games and enters this matchup on a four-game winning streak. It will be without Deandre Ayton for this matchup due to a knee injury, and Matisse Thybulle is still working his way back from an ankle issue.
The Thunder enter this matchup as 13.5-point favorites and -900 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Trail Blazers are +600 underdogs on the Moneyline, and the game total is set at 226 points.
Best Prop Bets for Thunder vs. Trail Blazers on DraftKings Sportsbook
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 Points (-115)
The MVP campaign for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in full swing and the Thunder superstar is showing no signs of slowing down. The 26-year-old is averaging a league-leading 32.0 points per game as well as 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks.
Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded over 31.5 points in 21 of the 43 games he has played this season. This includes 54 points against the Jazz on Tuesday and he was held to exactly 31 points against the Mavericks. He has gone over 31.5 points in ten of his past 16 games.
Looking at the matchup, the Trail Blazers rank 23rd in the NBA in opponents’ points per game. They also rank 23rd in opponents’ field goal percentage allowed and 26th in opponents three-point percentage. This is the third matchup between these two teams this season and Gilgeous-Alexander has been narrowly held under this total with scoring outputs of 28 and 30 points in the previous two games. This also occurred while the two games have resulted in victories of a combined margin of victory of 33 points with Gilgeous-Alexander being limited to 28 minutes of play in one game.
The risk of a blowout is the biggest concern for him not reaching this total again tonight. The signs of life the Trail Blazers have shown in recent games could help ensure there will be enough time for Gilgeous-Alexander to continue adding to his scoring total throughout the matchup. The star guard is the epicenter of everything the Thunder do offensively, and has played in attack mode of late. Look for him to build off this against an inferior opponent with defensive concerns and for Gilgeous-Alexander to record over 31.5 points for the 22nd time this season.
Scoot Henderson Over 10.5 Points (-120)
It has been a rocky start to Scoot Henderson’s NBA career. The former third-overall pick had a tough rookie season and struggled out the gates this year. But the G League Ignite product has played much better basketball in recent games, and is showing the signs of putting it together with his recent stretch of games being among the best of his young career.
So far this season Henderson is averaging 12.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting 42.9% from the field this season and 34.7% from beyond the three-point arc this season after shooting 38.5% from the field and 32.5% from the perimeter as a rookie. Overall, Henderson has recorded over 10.5 points in 22 of the 38 games he has played this season.
Oklahoma City has an impressive defense but the level that Henderson has recently played at is encouraging. He is averaging 20.8 points per game over his past five home games and has gone over 10.5 points in seven of his last 10 games overall. The Thunder play at the seventh quickest pace on the season and Henderson is effective when getting out in transition which could help pave the path to reach this number.
The 20-year-old will continue to play through the growing pains at the early stages of his career, but his development will continue to be a significant focus for Portland and they are beginning to see some positive signs. Look for him to take this challenge personally and for Henderson to be in attack mode during tonight’s game against the Western Conference leaders. Look for him to record over 10.5 points for the eighth time in the past 11 games and the 23rd time this season.
Isaiah Hartenstein Over 21.5 Points & Rebounds (-120)
Now past the halfway point of the season, we have yet to see Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Homgren share the floor. Injuries have kept each of them out during separate stretches of the season. Each has shown a significant level of impact when they have been on the floor and the Thunder likely will not reach their full peak as a team until this is an available option which should be a scary thought to the rest of the NBA.
Hartenstein is set to make his return tonight after a five-game absence due to a calf injury. Across the 24 games he has been active, Hartenstein is averaging 11.8 points and 12.2 rebounds in his 29.8 minutes of play. The 26-year-old has recorded over 21.5 combined points and rebounds in 17 of the 24 games he has played. This prop number is slightly decreased as he may see a lightened workload in his first game back, but this is a matchup that Hartenstein should still make his impact felt plenty.
In addition to ranking 26th in opponents’ points per game, the Trail Blazers rank 22nd in total rebounding and 24th in opponents’ rebounds per game. They also are 29th in opponents’ offensive rebounds per game and will be without Deandre Ayton tonight who is averaging a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game.
Hartenstein missed one of the previous matchups with the Trail Blazers but finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds in the game that he was active. Look for him to benefit from the absence of Ayton and pick up right where he left off before the injury. Hartenstein’s internal presence is more important to this Thunder team than they likely ever imagined before making the signing and look for him to showcase this again tonight.
