With the All-Star break bearing down on the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Los Angeles Lakers as they try to continue their regular-season dominance over a struggling franchise. The Lakers are closing in on rock bottom, especially at home, as they look to avoid their seventh straight home loss, which has not happened since the team moved to L.A. in 1960. With just an 8-15 mark at home, we have to back the visiting Thunder on the road tonight.
Thunder out to finish schedule before break on high note
Oklahoma City has won two straight games and is 8-2 in their last 10 games played overall. The Thunder are one of the league’s top teams and should provide a thorough thumping to the Lakers on Thursday night. They will be difficult to handle since the Lakers have no semblance of a team right now and cannot do anything rigth at home. Kevin Durant has been nearly unstoppable in his last 21 games, averaging 35.2 points.
Lakers hope to end rough streak against a top team
Los Angeles has dropped seven of nine regular-season games to the Thunder and are in the midst of a six-game losing streak at home. None of this bodes well for the Lakers as they host one of the league’s top teams on Thursday night. The Lakers are playing without five of their top six scorers right now. This includes Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Nick Young, Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry. Jordan Farmar has missed 19 of the last 20 Lakers games too.
When the league’s top team takes on one of the league’s worst teams on Thursday night, the oddsmakers at Bovada.lv put the Thunder at 11-point favorites. Over the past couple of years it would be difficult to count out the Lakers, but this season is completely different. Lay down 15 percent of your bankroll on the Thunder and the spread on Thursday night.
Chris Wassel
AA, AAS
CURRENTLY
Sports Writer and Journalist
RESIDES IN
Rahway, NJ
EDUCATION
Union County College, Montclair State University
EXPERTISE
Business, Writing, Sports, Food, Grilling, Olympics, Injuries, Politics, and more
Summary
Member of FSWA, FSGA, and a variety of Sports Betting Groups.
Lead arranger of news and injury reports for Rotoballer Hockey. Also did the news lead for NASCAR on the same site coming out of COVID.
Strategy and mapping out of various sports betting and sports articles for MyNHLTradeRumors and gambling.com.
Runs a hockey and fantasy hockey podcast that teaches fantasy hockey players how to improve their skills.
Experience
Chris Wassel has 20+ years of sports journalistic experience in various disciplines..
His ability to play sports is well documented. Most people in the business just write. However, Chris will race cars and even a super Moto bike from time to time. There is that fitness and hiking/cycling aspect too.
Chris has climbed mountains from Mount Washington to Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. For those that do not know. Chris also dabbles in food eating contests and challenges. Having a unique background with friends including Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has the ability to eat a whole 16-pound turkey or a 32 inch meat lover's pizza.
Since 2013, Chris has primarily focused on sports writing and fitness. On social media, he will answer any question in many different aspects. Even Chris's ability to wager on Entertainment and US Elections is well documented. He was able to predict Joe Biden's inevitable dip in approval rating below 40%.
Throughout his career, Chris has worked at a lot of places from DraftKings to USA Today and much more.
Finally, Chris has been nominated for quite a few awards from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for Hockey Writer Of The Year. Also, there have been a number of amazing fantasy hockey championships from expert to high-stake leagues.
Education
Chris received an Associates from Union Country College for business and accounting. Chris did sports journalism work at Montclair State University covering the hockey, baseball, and football teams.
Quote from Chris Wassel
"Do Not Think, Just Do.”
Education
1999 Graduate of Union County College
1993 Graduate of Rahway High School
Professional Achievements
Media credentialed member of the New Jersey Devils since 2010
Covered several NHL Drafts including the one day event in Newark in 2013
Been on countless podcasts, TV shows, and more including Sportsnet and even NHL Network