- The Los Angeles Lakers host the West-leading OKC Thunder on Monday night
- Oklahoma City is coming off a 118-110 win at Phoenix last night while the Lakers lost to Denver on Saturday
- See the Thunder vs Lakers player props, odds, and predictions for March 4
Fresh off a win in Phoenix last night, the Western Conference-leading OKC Thunder (42-18, 18-12 away, 38-21-1 ATS) are back in action on Monday night, visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (33-29, 21-10 home, 28-35-0 ATS) at crypto.com Arena at 7:40 pm PT/10:40 pm ET.
Coming off a 124-114 home loss to Denver on Saturday, the Lakers are slight one-point underdogs to the visiting Thunder.
OKC Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKC Thunder | -1 (-108) | -112 | Over 238 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1 (-112) | -104 | Under 238 (-110) |
The Thunder vs Lakers moneyline odds are nearly a pick’em, with OKC at -112 to win and Los Angeles at -104 in Monday’s NBA odds. The game total of 238 is the second-highest on the board among Monday’s six games. (Washington vs Utah is at 240.5.)
Odds as of March 4 at FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app in North Carolina.
Last night’s win in Phoenix coupled with Minnesota’s loss to the Clippers earlier in the day moved OKC half a game ahead of the T-Wolves and Nuggets at the top of the Western Conference standings. If the NBA playoff bracket was cemented today, the Lakers would be the #10 seed and have to win two straight road games just to get into the first round.
Lakers Up-and-Down Play Continues
The Lakers have been one of the most inconsistent teams all season, and that trend has continued post-All-Star break. The Lakers are 3-3 since the break with wins over the Spurs (123-113), Clippers (116-112), and Wizards (134-131 OT), and losses to the Warriors (128-110), Suns, (123-113), and Nuggets (124-114).
Saturday’s setback to the Nuggets was a case of one that got away. Los Angeles led by eight at halftime before Denver dominated the second half 66-48.
LA’s starters continued to shoulder a monstrous load. All five played at least 30 minutes with four of five at 37 minutes or more. The Lakers are currently fifth-last in the NBA in bench scoring at just 30.7 PPG.
Making matters worse, both LeBron James (25.3 PPG, 7.9 APG, 7.0 RPG) and Anthony Davis (25.0 PPG, 12.3 RPG) have landed on the injury report for Monday. James is questionable with left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. Davis is probable with a sore Achilles.
Gabe Vincent (knee) and Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) both remain out.
Thunder Earn Hard-Fought Victory Over Suns
OKC’s 118-110 win at Phoenix last night as 4.5-point road favorites was an excellent bounce-back game after the Thunder fell 132-118 at San Antonio (as double-digit favorites) on Thursday night. Second-favorite in the NBA MVP odds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way once again against the Suns, with 35 points on 15-of-27 shooting plus nine assists, eight rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
The Thunder have been proficient in the second halves of back-to-backs this season. They are 7-3 straight-up with wins over Detroit, Portland (twice), New York, San Antonio, Sacramento, and Washington, along with losses to Atlanta, the LA Clippers, and Minnesota.
They are currently one of just two teams that ranks in the top five of both O-Rating (119.3, third) and D-Rating (111.4, fourth). They are second only to the NBA-leading Celtics in Net Rating at +8.0.
The Lakers, by comparison, are 19th in Net Rating (-0.6), 17th in O-Rating (114.7), and 17th in D-Rating (115.3).
OKC vs LAL Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 25.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 13.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 2.5 (Ov -166 | Un +130) | 0.5 (Ov +175 | Un -230) |
| Austin Reaves (LAL) | 14.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) | 5.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) |
| Chet Holmgren (OKC) | 16.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 8.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 2.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) |
| D’Angelo Russell (LAL) | 17.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 3.5 (Ov +124 | Un -160) | 5.5 (Ov -135 | Un -105) | 2.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) |
| Jalen Williams (OKC) | 20.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 4.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | 4.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 1.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) |
| Josh Giddey (OKC) | 9.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | 5.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 0.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) |
| LeBron James (LAL) | 25.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 6.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) | 7.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 2.5 (Ov +150 | Un -195) |
| Luguentz Dort (OKC) | 10.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -166 | Un +130) |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 31.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 5.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 6.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 1.5 (Ov +114 | Un -145) |
Player props as of March 4 at DraftKings. Click here to claim the DraftKings North Carolina promo.
At 31.5 O/U, SGA leads the point totals, as he does most nights he’s in action these days. Both LeBron and Davis are listed at 25.5 for the Lakers, while AD has a monstrous rebound total of 13.5.
Thunder vs Lakers Prediction
I faded the Thunder last night when the line was six against the Suns, while the closing value was solid (the line closed at 4.5), the Suns didn’t have enough in the tank down the stretch. That game was just the latest in a litany of impressive performances from OKC, who are tied for the fourth-most road wins in the league (18) this season.
Fatigue is a concern, but OKC has a significantly deeper bench than the Lakers. Ten different players are averaging at least 14.4 minutes per game.
OKC vs LAL pick: Thunder moneyline (-112)
Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:
- 17-21 moneyline (+4.06 units)
- 16-16-2 ATS (-0.32 units)
- 7-12 player props (-6.82 units)
- 0-3 same-game parlay (-3.00 units)
All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, March 4th in what is sure to be an exciting matchup between two Western Conference powerhouses. Both teams have been playing well as of late, making this game a must-watch for basketball fans.
The Thunder currently sit in third place in the Western Conference with a record of 38-22, while the Lakers are in fourth place with a record of 33-28. The Thunder have been led by their dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George, who have been playing at an MVP level this season. Westbrook is averaging a triple-double for the third straight season, while George is having a career year, averaging over 28 points per game.
On the other side, the Lakers have been led by LeBron James, who is still playing at an elite level in his 16th season in the league. James is averaging over 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, showing that he is still one of the best players in the NBA.
In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one. The Thunder have the edge in terms of overall record and talent, but the Lakers have been playing well since the All-Star break and will have the home-court advantage. It will likely come down to which team can execute better down the stretch and make key plays in crunch time.
As for props and odds, the Thunder are currently listed as 2.5-point favorites on most sportsbooks, with the over/under set at 234 points. This indicates that oddsmakers expect a high-scoring game with the Thunder coming out on top by a narrow margin.
Overall, this game has all the makings of a classic Western Conference showdown between two talented teams. Fans can expect a high-energy game with plenty of highlight-reel plays and clutch moments. Make sure to tune in on Monday night to see who comes out on top in this exciting matchup between the Thunder and Lakers.