Coming off their worst-ever loss in the NBA playoffs, there remains steadfast belief in the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dumped 143-101 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference final, the Thunder still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.
Oddsmakers are counting on a strong rebound from the regular-season champions of the West in Game 4 of the series on Monday. Oklahoma City is set as 2.5-point road favorites.
Let’s check the latest betting line on this game. Remember, odds are always subject to change.
 | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -2.5 (-115) | -145 | O 218.5 (-115) |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +2.5 (-105) | +125 | U 218.5 (-105) |
Oklahoma City also remains the prohibitive -750 odds-on chalk to win this series.
As the only NBA playoff game on tap on the Monday schedule, naturally this is the one we are selecting to focus on in our NBA best bets.
Prior to making any bets on your NBA playoffs picks, you definitely should be checking out the latest NBA Playoffs Vegas odds. You can also assess the most recent developments in NBA prop bets. You should also be taking advantage of these Vegas betting site bonuses to make the most of your NBA betting.
Though Minnesota and Oklahoma City are 4-4 straight up in the last eight games between the two teams, you have to go back 11 games to find the Timberwolves posting back-to-back wins over the Thunder. At Minnesota, Oklahoma City is 3-4 SU in the past seven visits.
Oklahoma City is 14-4 SU through the past 18 games. The Thunder are 4-8 against the spread over the past 12 games. They’re 0-6 ATS in the past six road games. Oklahoma City is 7-13 SU in the past 20 meetings with Minnesota. The Thunder are 2-4 ATS in the last six games against the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves are 15-5 SU over the past 20 games. Minnesota is 10-1 SU in the past 11 home games. The Timberwolves are 14-4 SU through the past 18 games facing clubs from the Western Conference.
Four of the last five games between the Timberwolves and Thunder went over. At Minnesota, the under has come in four times through the past six games against Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves are 10-4 ATS in the past 14 games facing teams from the Northwest Division.
Four of Oklahoma City’s past six games went over. Six of the last 10 road games played by the Thunder have gone over.
Four of Minnesota’s last five games hit on the over. Nine of the last 12 times that Oklahoma City has played at Minnesota the under was the winning play on the total. Five of the last six home games played by the Timberwolves also saw the over come through.
Minnesota is 12-13 SU as a betting underdog. The Timberwolves are 22-25 ATS as a home team. Oklahoma City is 76-18 SU as the favorite in the betting line. The Thunder are 26-20 ATS as the away club.
The Thunder weren’t the only ones who were humbled on Saturday. Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, was enduring his worst game of the season.
Gilgeous-Alexander was held to a season-low 14 points on four-for-13 shooting. He committed four turnovers and was removed from the game early in the third quarter.
The Thunder guard averaged 34.5 points over the first two games of the series as Oklahoma City grabbed a 2-0 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander attempted only four free throws. He had 29 attempts from the charity stripe over the first two games against the Timberwolves.
Racing to a 20-point first-quarter lead in Game 3, the Timberwolves just kept building on that advantage. Minnesota shot 57.3% from the floor and 50.0% from 3-point range.
Minnesota was far more aggressive in physically pressuring the Thunder than the Timberwolves were during the first two games of the series. They found all kinds of cracks to exploit in Oklahoma City’s No. 1 NBA defense.
Anthony Edwards led the assault with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists while playing just three quarters. Julius Randle added 24 points. Rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 15 points while playing only 13 minutes.
The time-honored theory is that it isn’t a playoff series until a home team loses. To lose Game 4 would basically be surrendering the series as far as Minnesota is concerned. NBA teams go on to win 95.6% of series (283-13) when taking a 3-1 advantage.
All season long, the Thunder have rebounded well. They’ve lost back-to-back games just twice all season and never in the playoffs. Go with Oklahoma City to cover as road favorites against the Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs picks.
