OKLAHOMA CITY vs GOLDEN STATE 10/16/2018 Odds, Picks & Preview

The OKLAHOMA CITY and the GOLDEN STATE will both be gunning for a victory on 10/16/2018 at 10:35 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE: -12.5
PREDICTION: GOLDEN STATE , OKLAHOMA CITY

Oddsmakers currently have the GOLDEN STATE listed as -12.5 point favorites versus the OKLAHOMA CITY, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.

The Golden State Warriors could look like a very different team at the start of the 2019-2020 season, so they’re going to going to go for broke in 2018-19. The Warriors will begin the defense of their latest title when they open the season by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

Superstars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson can become free agents after the season along with newcomer DeMarcus Cousins, and the team is planning a move across the Bay Area to San Francisco next season, so 2018-19 could mark the end of an era for the Golden State dynasty. “I think if we do what we did last year and the year before, it will be a beautiful year again,” Thompson told reporters. “I think we just got to stay focused and enjoy every night. Do those two things — play with joy and focus — and we’ll be great.” The Thunder secured their future by convincing Paul George to stay in town on a long-term contract and are hoping to improve upon a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference and a first-round playoff exit. “We’ve got the chemistry,” George told ESPN during the preseason. “Me being around these guys going on about to be two years now, there’s an expectation and a level we know we need to play at. I think the consistency part you’ll see with us now being able to play well against the sub-.500 teams. But I definitely think this team has a chance. The reason why I signed back here is because I believed in it.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE THUNDER (2017-18: 48-34): Oklahoma City is going into the season with a bit of uncertainty on the injury front, with former MVP Russell Westbrook questionable for the opener after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month. “There’s certain things he’ll have to go through to get himself fully cleared to play, but he’s certainly moving in the right direction and he’s worked really hard at his rehab to get himself back,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters. Oklahoma City backed up Westbrook in the offseason by trading for point guard Dennis Schroder, who averaged 19.4 points and 6.2 assists with the Atlanta Hawks last season.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (2017-18: 58-24): Golden State took home the NBA title in three of the last four seasons and goes into 2018-19 as the favorites again despite the uncertain status of Cousins, who is making his way back from an Achilles tear. The Warriors will remain the team to beat as long as they can find their way on defense, and coach Steve Kerr was not pleased with the effort on that end at the conclusion of the preseason. “The last week was kind of a mess,” Kerr told reporters. “Our defense was atrocious the last couple of games: basic stuff, not boxing out on free throws, back cuts, transition defense. I attribute some of that to preseason and guys losing interest. I’ll tell you after Tuesday night if it’s just our bad habits right now. If it is bad habits, we’ve got to get out of that.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Thunder SG Andre Roberson (knee) had a setback in his recovery from surgery and is expected to be out at least two more months.

2. Warriors PG Stephen Curry (2,129) needs to make 15 3-pointer to move past Paul Pierce and into sixth place on the all-time list.

3. The teams split the four-game season series in 2017-18, with Golden State taking the final two meetings.

PREDICTION: Warriors 126, Thunder 111

Comments

comments