NBA Picks and Betting Tips: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction, 21 November

NLB Staff

20.11.2024 02:45

Okc Thunder vs Blazers Prediction

With the Portland Trail Blazers finally seeing massive progress from their rebuilds of previous years through the early part of this season, they play an OKC squad that continues being a great all-around unit despite various key injuries. As Portland knocked off Atlanta 114-110 last time out, this Thunder unit took a tough 121-119 loss to Dallas. This game will take place on November 21st at 6:30 A.M. IST in Paycom Center of Oklahoma City. Underneath are our key betting tips, player props, vital injuries, and recent head-to-head trends to make a potential outcome for this matchup.

Okc Thunder vs Blazers Key Betting Tips & Predictions

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Moneyline Pick

Knowing that the money line pick for Oklahoma City is -550, it is a must-take due to their abilities on both ends of the floor. Having a great backcourt with Alex Caruso and Shai Gilegous-Alexander complementing each other’s game, they should outscore plus create more turnovers than Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. As Jalen Williams remains an elite small-five, his ability to shoot the three and sneak in for easy layups gives them an advantage at center. Looking at their two forwards Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins who provide great defense against Toumani Camara plus Jermai Grant, the -550 moneyline should help OKC win their 14th in a row.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Point Spread Pick

Seeing that the spread is at -10.5 for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are the far better all-around team in this matchup. Knowing that Shai Gilegous-Alexander has been an elite point guard who can drive in with ease and have great shots on the open floor, he should create a massive mismatch against Scoot Henderson. Although Henderson has developed abilities on both ends, the ability of OKC’s guards will take a huge advantage. Meanwhile, the shooting guard position will be held down by Alex Caruso as he will continue to shut down Shaedeon Sharpe’s ability to knock down easy shots. As a defender who can force players into very rough shots and take weird angles, he should completely take out his scoring production. Having Luguentz Dort at a small forward against someone like Toumani Camara will create a huge mismatch because Camara is someone who enjoys driving in. As Dort’s frame won’t let him do that, it will force Camara to be placed in traps outside and help the Thunder guard return the favor the other way with threes. Having a defender with the length of Aaron Wiggins against Jerami Grant will not let him get great looks in the mid-range and force him to stretch it out up top. With Wiggins being a great rebounder inside as well, he will support Jalen Williams's two-way game that involves a lot of three-point shooting against a slower Donovan Clingan. Looking at this the -10.5 pick for OKC is perfect.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Over/Under Pick (Total Points)

As the over/under in this game is at 220, this should be something that Oklahoma City should control with their all-around scoring, while Portland will try their best to keep up. With the Blazers having a very solid backcourt that can knock down jump shots or drive in, their small forward has continued playing a solid offensive role for this team. Having a bench piece that has started showing prowess to score all over the floor, they play an OKC squad led by one of the best point guards. His ability to finish inside or outside helps their wings be very solid guys from three. As their power forward has developed into a great mid-range player too, they have a center that can provide a lot of points from the perimeter or when finishing near the hoop. Having two quick guards with high-volume scoring off the bench, this game should provide less scoring than their 251 points from last time out, but not too much.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Top Player Props

Jerami Grant under 19.5 points at 1.80: As the Portland Trail Blazers power forward has struggled to hit similar marks this season from years prior, his efficiency hasn’t been at the same level. Going up against a bigger and stronger defender in Aaron Wiggins, he won’t have a lot of great looks to the rim or be able to finish at his own will. Being someone who averages 16.9 points a game, he should be below the line once again.

Jalen Williams over 20.5 points at 1.87: Seeing that the center for Oklahoma City continues to show outside shooting prowess, he should be able to create a lot of perimeter looks against a slower defender like Donavan Clingan. As the Blazers center does provide some size when defending Williams inside, the ability of the Thunder five to create reverse layups and great cuts to the basket at his undersized stature will be unstoppable. With Williams averaging 20.8 points a night, he should hit the over in this matchup.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Portland Trail Blazers Injury News & Impact

Portland Trail Blazers Injuries: As De’Andre Ayton is missing due to a finger injury, 13.3 points, this unit will miss a key finisher having a less efficient inside scorer in Donovan Clingan starting over him. Losing Matisse Thyabulle to a knee injury will hurt this squad’s shooting guard depth with Shaedeon Sharpe, 18.0 points per game, being very offensive-minded. Having no Anfernee Simmons will cause Scoot Henderson to play an extended period in this game.

Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries: With this OKC squad missing Chet Holmgren, 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds, still out due to his iliac fracture, this group will not miss too much with an amazing piece that can stretch the floor in Jalen Williams replacing him. Although the Thunder lost shooting guard Isaiah Joe due to a left calf contusion, this squad won’t be missing much because an elite defender like Alex Caruso returns. As this unit still is missing Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams, those pieces could cause this unit to have a lot of key depth pieces out.

Okc Thunder vs Blazers Head-to-Head Trends

As Oklahoma City has continued to own this matchup with ease, they will enter this game trying to expand on their 13-game win streak against Portland. With this squad having scored over 100 points every time over their last 9 matchups, their high-scoring trend should continue in this game. Having been 13-2 against the spread in their last 15 games with Portland, OKC should continue trying to improve upon this record.

Betting Insights & Public Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are backed by 88.4% of bettors to win this matchup against Portland according to public trends.

Okc Thunder vs Blazers Final Prediction

As this Oklahoma City Thunder squad enter this game having been one of the biggest in Western Confrence play, their all-around talent should have them have another easy advantage against Portland. A group that has really continued to develop with several pieces turning the corner, this Thunder team is led by an elite point guard in Shai Gilegous-Alexander. As he continues to provide scoring for this team inside and has a great jump-shot form, his abilities to put up points will continue against a smaller Scoot Henderson. Being a guard with a bigger frame that can dish out passes to his teammates and really create from anywhere, his defensive game should slow down Scoot’s young play-making ability. With no Anfernee Simmons in this matchup to switch their pace, Portland will have to against one of the best guards in stealing and causing a lot of deflections. With Alex Caruso returning at shooting guard, his ability to complement SGA’s game is going to be very vital for this OKC squad. As Shaedeon Sharpe continues to be one of the top shooters on this Trail Blazers unit, Caruso’s ability to move with him side-to-side and reach-in will cause the Portland guard to have a lot of tougher looks. Someone who this squad depends on to provide them with their scoring, Sharpe may also lose the ball a ton depending on how conservative Caruso wants to play the one-on-one’s.

With Luguentz Dort being this squads small forward, his prowess as a three-point shooter has really come on this year. Although he is mostly known as a defender, the start of this season proves to show that he can finally attack on both ends. Being tasked to guard the young and flashy Toumani Camara, Dort should be able to use his strength and physicality to force the Blazers small forward off mark. Seeing that he has a massive core, it will cause Camara to kick out a lot and force him into a lot more threes than normal while the driving game won’t come easy without losing the ball quite a few times. Down low, this OKC squad has Aaron Wiggins who should continue being one of their most underrated defenders. Seeing someone like his length, he should really close on Jermai Grant’s mid-range game and make him have a lot more tougher looks at the basket. As Wiggins himself is a pretty solid finisher, he should continue providing this Oklahoma City squad with key layups against a weaker defender. In the middle, OkC has Jalen Williams replacing Chet Holmgren as one of the best stretch-fives league-wide. Seeing that Williams can really drive into the lane and have some masterful layups, he will force Donvoan Clingan to come out when shooting threes. Seeing that Clingan is not much of a speedy threat when having to go out to the perimeter, Williams should have plenty of great three-point looks while using his explosiveness inside to get extra finishes. As a great defender, he will also cause the Portland center into a lot of very tough looks that will force him to kick it out. With this Oklahama City roster having Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell off the bench, Portland can only keep it close if guys like Duop Reath and Rayan Ruepert play at a higher level.

Our prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder win and cover their -11.5 spread, while the score goes over 220 points.