Suns vs. Thunder Predictions & Odds (March 19)

March 16, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

• Phoenix is ​​a narrow 2-point straight favorite in the Suns vs. Thunder odds on Sunday, March 19th
• Kevin Durant is still out for the Suns with an ankle injury
• Get the Suns vs Thunder odds and predictions plus the latest injury news for each team

With less than a month left in the NBA regular season, it’s tough for teams battling for playoff spotting. Division number one is slipping out of reach for the Phoenix Suns and it seems likely they will take 4th place in the west.

It’s a different story with their opponent on Sunday, March 19th, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Just four wins separate the 5th-ranked squad from 12th in the Western Conference, with 9th-ranked OKC right in the middle.

The pick for this game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with each city’s regional Bally Sports Network broadcasting the game. The Suns defeated the Thunder 132-101 last week and are once again the chalk in the NBA ratings this time.

Sun’s vs Thunder Odds

Phoenix lost three games in its last contest, defeating Orlando 116-113. That was only their second win in five games since Kevin Durant was injured while warming up ahead of his scheduled home debut for the Suns, which didn’t come to fruition against Oklahoma City.

Despite missing the Easy Money Sniper, the Suns won that game easily, 132-101. Once again the Suns are the favorites against OKC and have 2 points. A big difference in the lineup compared to the last clash is that the NBA’s fifth-top scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is expected to play for the Thunder.

Odds as of March 18th at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been on fire since returning to the lineup

After their first loss with their MVP in the lineup since returning from injury, the Thunder need every win they can get on the track. Gilgeous-Alexander, who was previously featured in the NBA MVP ratings when he left the roster in February, has taken his score to a new level since recovering.

updated MVP ladder:

1. Joel Embiid
2. Nikola Jokic
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo
4.Jayson Tatum
5. Lukas Doncic
6. Domantas Sabonis
7. Julius Randle
8. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
9.James Harden
10. Devin Booker

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 17, 2023

He’s averaged 34 points per game on 55.1% shots from the field in the five games he’s been in this month and helped lead the Thunder to a 4-1 record in those games. Without him, OKC only owns a 2-2 mark in March.

It’s time for the Thunder to qualify for the postseason for the first time in three years. A place between 5th and 12th is still realistic in a very crowded Western Conference playoff picture.

Western Conference rankings

**Before the games on Saturday**

During the season, the Thunder delivered the best bang for your buck of any team in the association if you’re betting on them winning straight away. Despite being under .500, underdog odds have paid off pretty well, and OKC has returned 16.55% on your investment if you’ve taken it on the moneyline every game this year.

Suns have been fighting since Durant went down

It didn’t look like Durant’s injury would shake them much as the Suns demolished the Thunder by 31 points the night he was injured. Since then it’s been a bit of a disaster.

“Without Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns have no reasonable title ambitions. … If he’s not there, they don’t have a snowball chance in hell.”

—@stephanasmith pic.twitter.com/xD1TO4c5J7

— First Take (@FirstTake) March 9, 2023

Phoenix lost three straight games, with none of those losses coming as close, before earning a three-point win over Orlando at home on Thursday. They have failed to cover in four games in a row. When it comes to NBA championship odds, the Suns have slipped back down to the number 3 betting favorite after that poor run of play.

Offensively, they have returned to earth since their first four games in the month they scored 125 or more points in three games. Since then, they have failed to reach the 120 mark in four games, no doubt hampered by the loss of Durant.

Sun’s vs Thunder prediction

While Phoenix definitely doesn’t want to slip out of the top 4, this game is far more important to the Thunder. They’ve lost in both head-to-head encounters with the Suns this year, but both have been on the road, where OKC is 13-21 this year versus a 21-15 mark at home.

Suns vs Thunder Latest Results

The Suns have absolutely owned the Thunder for the past few years, going 7-1 against OKC in their last eight meetings, but that lone loss came on the road and the Thunder are 2-1 ATS in those competitions at their own court. In addition, the Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.

Both teams haven’t played since Thursday, giving them two full days off between games. Despite having one of the youngest rosters in the league, the extra recovery has proved beneficial for the Thunder this season as they have played 10-5-1 ATS with at least two days off as opposed to a 6-8-1 ATS brand for the suns in the same situation.

Not only are we picking the Thunder to include in the NBA odds, but our prediction is that they will win this game straight away and retaliate for last week’s brutal loss to the Suns.

Choice: Oklahoma City Thunder Moneyline (+115)

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