Minnesota Timberwolves vs. OKC Thunder Game 4 (OKC Leads 2-1) - Best Bets & Betting Odds
All odds provided by Sports Interaction.
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Player Prop Best Bets
The Thunder got beat so badly in Game 3 that their starters didn’t see the floor for the entire fourth quarter. That simply doesn’t happen to this OKC team. And that will no doubt reignite the fire in the bellies of these young Thunder players that was seemingly extinguished after their two big wins to start the series.
Leading the way in that respect will no doubt be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed just 14 points on 31 percent shooting on the night. He had 31 and 38 in the first two games on pretty good efficiency though, so we know he can get to his spots and rise up against this defense. He just had an off night in Game 3, and it just so happened to be the same night as the rest of his teammates.
SGA has had an insanely consistent and efficient season. That Game 3 performance was just the 10th time this year that he has shot 35 percent or worse from the field. In the previous nine games that followed those stinkers, SGA has averaged 30.4 points while scoring 30+ in six of them.
The Canadian MVP had also been killing this Timberwolves team all season prior to Game 3. In the previous six matchups with Minnesota this season, SGA had 40, 24, 37, 39, 31, and 38 points. For the first time in a while, we’re getting reasonable odds on SGA to score 30 points (which he has done in 9 of 14 playoff games and 64 percent of his regular season games this year) and we’re not missing the opportunity.
Best Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Score 30+ Points (-170)
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Moneyline/Point Spread Prediction
After going up 2-0 with a couple of blowout wins at home, the young OKC Thunder clearly took their foot off the gas for a second there at the start of Game 3. And in the Western Conference Finals, that’s all it takes. The Timberwolves jumped out on them 34-14 in the first quarter, and they really never looked back, as OKC emptied their bench midway through the third quarter in the 40-point beatdown.
If the Timberwolves had beaten the Thunder in more regular circumstances, we might view Game 4 differently. But a 42-point loss is simply not something a 68-win team is going to abide. The Thunder know they need to get back to the hustle, pace, and defense that allowed them to breeze through Games 1 and 2. This is a must-win for OKC just like the Timberwolves, because if the Timberwolves get a head of steam, they could rattle off four straight.
But we don’t see things going down like that. Oklahoma City has been so good this year exactly because they don’t go on skids. They have only lost back-to-back games twice all season, going 16-2 straight up following a defeat (including the playoffs). That’s an 89 percent success rate and that leads the NBA.
And lucky for us, for the second straight game, the Thunder have moneyline odds under -150 for just the fourth time since March 23rd. Betting apps allowing us to take OKC’s moneyline odds in this bounce back scenario that they’ve been so dominant with this season is a blessing we won’t scoff at.
Best Bet: Oklahoma City Thunder Moneyline (-155)/Sports Interaction
