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Rogers' *10* TOP Underdog Ticket >> 35-24-1 Overall Past 12 Days (+$7320)!
(NBA) Oklahoma City vs. Utah,
Point Spread: 6.00 | -115.00 Oklahoma City (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 6.00 | -115.00 Oklahoma City (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: the 25-19 OKC Thunder find themselves trailing the Utah Jazz by 3 1/2 games in the Northwest Division and also own just the West's No. 6 seed, tied with Memphis. The Thunder have a chance to make up some ground Monday night when they travel to Salt Lake City to face the 29-16 Utah Jazz.
Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook did not claim a starting spot in the upcoming NBA All-Star game, That, despite leading the NBA in scoring (30.6 PPG), ranking second in assists (10.4) and 11th in rebounds (10.6). He has posted 21 triple-doubles so far this season and is the first player to average a triple-double this late into a season since 1963-64. Westbrook says he won't be looking to make any special statement over being denied a starting spot. "I don't play for All-Star bids," Westbrook told reporters on Friday. "I play to win championships, and every night I compete at a high level, and it'll work out. I just continue doing what I'm doing and play the game the right way, and everything else will work out." I guess the follow up question should have been, "Just how many championships have you won?" The again, that would be journalism!
Utah: The Jazz are riding a season-best six game winning streak after beating Indiana 109-100 on Saturday. The Jazz led the Pacers wire-to-wire behind a season-high 30 points from George Hill (18.4-3.8-4.1). Meanwhile, teammates Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert both added more evidence to build their respective all-star cases. Hayward finished with 27 points, a career-best 16th straight game with 16 or more points. He is averaging career highs in points (22.2), rebounds (5.7) and free-throw shooting percentage (87.1). Gobert scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds for his 31st double-double of the season and his 30th consecutive game with 10 or more rebounds. He is averaging 14.1 points, 15.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in January and 12.9 & 12.7 on the season. Gobert leads the league in blocked shots per game (2.51), ranks second in field-goal percentage (66.9) and fifth in rebounds (12.7).
The pick: Westbrook's "I play for championships" quote was a classic and it's my belief he will be highly motivated here, as will his teammates, as the Jazz have proven to be one of this season's "breakout teams!" Oklahoma City swept all four meetings with Utah last season (of course that was with Durant) but I'm taking the points. Make OKC a 10* play.
Oklahoma City: Russell Westbrook did not claim a starting spot in the upcoming NBA All-Star game, That, despite leading the NBA in scoring (30.6 PPG), ranking second in assists (10.4) and 11th in rebounds (10.6). He has posted 21 triple-doubles so far this season and is the first player to average a triple-double this late into a season since 1963-64. Westbrook says he won't be looking to make any special statement over being denied a starting spot. "I don't play for All-Star bids," Westbrook told reporters on Friday. "I play to win championships, and every night I compete at a high level, and it'll work out. I just continue doing what I'm doing and play the game the right way, and everything else will work out." I guess the follow up question should have been, "Just how many championships have you won?" The again, that would be journalism!
Utah: The Jazz are riding a season-best six game winning streak after beating Indiana 109-100 on Saturday. The Jazz led the Pacers wire-to-wire behind a season-high 30 points from George Hill (18.4-3.8-4.1). Meanwhile, teammates Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert both added more evidence to build their respective all-star cases. Hayward finished with 27 points, a career-best 16th straight game with 16 or more points. He is averaging career highs in points (22.2), rebounds (5.7) and free-throw shooting percentage (87.1). Gobert scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds for his 31st double-double of the season and his 30th consecutive game with 10 or more rebounds. He is averaging 14.1 points, 15.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in January and 12.9 & 12.7 on the season. Gobert leads the league in blocked shots per game (2.51), ranks second in field-goal percentage (66.9) and fifth in rebounds (12.7).
The pick: Westbrook's "I play for championships" quote was a classic and it's my belief he will be highly motivated here, as will his teammates, as the Jazz have proven to be one of this season's "breakout teams!" Oklahoma City swept all four meetings with Utah last season (of course that was with Durant) but I'm taking the points. Make OKC a 10* play.
