NBA Betting Picks: Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday, 11/30/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV: FSOK
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -8.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -9
Opening Total: 205
Current Total: 204.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Oklahoma City is scoring at a high rate during its current three-game winning streak

Utah has won five of its last six games, as it comes off a 96-84 win over the New Orleans Hornets as three-point road favorites, while going UNDER the total for the first time in four contests. The Jazz are 3-7 on the road this season, but just 1-5 in that situation against Western Conference opponents. The franchise has lost eight of the last 11 matchups in this particular series dating back to 2009. Utah is 8-5 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points over the last two-plus seasons, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds on Friday night.

The Jazz have four probable starters averaging in double figures, with center Al Jefferson leading the way in scoring 16.6 points and grabbing 10.6 rebounds per game. He scored a team-high 19 points against the Hornets last time out, while small forward Marvin Williams chipped in with 16 points in that affair. Utah has been getting to the free throw line this season, ranking second in makes and third in attempts from the charity stripe.

Oklahoma City has scored 114 or more points during its three-game win streak, as it picked up a 120-98 blowout victory over the Houston Rockets as 10.5-point home favorites last time out. The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant’s season-high 37 points, which allowed the franchise to move past the offseason trade that sent last year’s Sixth Man of the Year James Harden to the Lone Star State. “We’ve moved past it,” stated Durant after the game. He is once against joining up with point guard Russell Westbrook to form the NBA’s highest-scoring duo. Oklahoma City is 2-0 ATS at home when the total is between 200 and 204.5 this season.

The Thunder have won eight of their 10 games at Chesapeake Energy Arena, including a 4-1 mark versus Western foes. Oklahoma City is 7-0 when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor this year, which is certainly possible to achieve versus a subpar road team in this matchup.