Lakers vs. Thunder - Game 1 Prediction & Betting Odds

Written by Jake Thompson
Sunday, 13 May 2012 19:37

We’ll preview the NBA betting odds and make predictions on Game 1 of the Lakers vs. Thunder series.

Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers (45-28) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (51-19) will take place on Monday, May 14th, and our preview will help make predictions on the final score.  Oklahoma City will be at home at the Chesapeake Energy Arena for Game 1, and this will be the 7th meeting of the year between these teams.  The road squad has won 3 of 6 on the season and both the Lakers and the Thunder have 3 wins apiece.

The Game 1 NBA betting odds up at 5Dimes Sportsbook don’t indicate that Monday’s clash will be all that competitive, but we’ll let our predictions make the final decision on that.  Currently the Thunder is a 7.5-point betting favorite, while the total for Game 1 sits at 191.5 points.  Bet on Game 1 between the Lakers and the Thunder with this industry leader and you’ll receive a 50% cash bonus on top of your deposit simply for clicking our link to get signed up!

Los Angeles was only average defensively during the regular season and they seem to regressing at the worst possible time.  The Lakers are giving up easy buckets inside the 3-point arc lately and a Thunder squad that shoots 47.1% from the field while scoring 102.9 points per game seems perfectly suited to take advantage of that misstep.  Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol will have to be tough inside for the Lakers to stop this attack, and I just don’t believe they are physical enough to do that.

The Lakers haven’t just regressed defensively, as they are also shooting barely 40% from the field over their last 5 games.  Those games were against a Denver Nuggets squad that doesn’t exactly play shutdown defense, so it could be a long series for Los Angeles if they don’t get it together in a hurry.  The Thunder has forced bad shots the entire season and has taken it up a notch lately as they begin their playoff push.  Oklahoma City is only average at defending the perimeter, but the Lakers don’t shoot well from beyond the arc so it shouldn’t hurt them much.

Predictions here call for an Oklahoma City blowout victory because of a few reasons.  The Thunder enter Game 1 well rested after taking out the Dallas Mavericks in 4 straight games, while the Lakers come into Game 1 with tired legs after being stretched to 7 games in their 1st round matchup.  Oklahoma City can defend the Lakers and shut them down on offense, and I think the Thunder will employ an in-and-out game plan that wears down the Los Angeles big men.  Bet on the Thunder to win Game 1 by double digits and you should be a bit wealthier than you were before tipoff.

Lakers vs. Thunder – Game 1 Prediction:

Lakers 91

Thunder 102