OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS ODDS & PREDICTIONS FOR APRIL 2, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from tonight’s slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder (52-22 SU, 42-31-1 ATS) taking on the Philadelphia 76ers (40-35 SU, 41-33-1 ATS) for the second and final time this season. 

Philadelphia won the first meeting 127-123 when these teams clashed back in late November. Can the short-handed Sixers sweep the season series, or will the Thunder avenge that loss?

Here is a look at which squad has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

• When: Tuesday, April 2, 2024
  
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
  
• Where: Wells Fargo Center
  
• Location: Philadelphia, PA
  
• TV: TNT and NBCS-PH

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers Odds (Via DraftKings)

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

Can The Thunder Hold On To The Top Spot Out West?

Oklahoma City Thunder Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 120.4 PPG – 3RD                     
• Offensive Efficiency: 120.0 points per 100 possessions – 3RD                        
• Scoring Defense: 113.0 PPG – 12TH                    
• Defensive Efficiency: 112.6 points per 100 possessions – 6TH           

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a slim half-game lead over the Denver Nuggets in the conference playoff race out west. OKC has also put up seven wins across its last 10 outings.

This includes a blowout 128-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on March 29 and a 113-112 victory against the New York Knicks on Sunday. Jalen Williams paced the team’s offense with 33 points on an efficient 14-for-18 effort from the field. He also handed out eight assists and grabbed four rebounds. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 19 points and three assists. He also hit the game-winning basket with 2.6 seconds left to play. Josh Giddey contributed 16 points and finished with team highs in both rebounds (13) and assists (12) while shooting 7-for-11 from the floor. This marked the third triple-double of his career, with each of them coming against the Knicks.

The Thunder clinched their first playoff birth since 2020, but they know their work is far from over. 

“Great accomplishment for the organization,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said via ESPN. “I couldn’t be happier for the team and for the organization. And now we’ve got to continue to sharpen our blade down the stretch here (to) prepare ourselves.”

After trailing by a 10-point margin heading into the final frame, OKC outscored New York 38-27, handing the Knicks another disappointing loss. The Thunder held the Knicks to 41.3 percent shooting from the field and just 30.2 percent from beyond the arc. 

Can The Sixers Avoid The Play-In Tournament?

Philadelphia 76ers Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 114.4 PPG – 15TH             
• Offensive Efficiency: 117.1 points per 100 possessions – 14TH              
• Scoring Defense: 112.2 PPG – 9TH                       
• Defensive Efficiency: 114.9 points per 100 possessions – 12TH             

On the other side of this matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers were one of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. However, with Joel Embiid out of the mix, they have fallen to the No. 8 spot, trailing the seventh-place Miami Heat by 1.5 games. 

Although the Sixers are just 4-6 in their last 10 outings, they recently snapped a three-game losing skid with a much-needed 135-120 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Despite missing its top two scorers, four of Philadelphia’s starting five reached double figures. 

Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers’ scoring attack with 32 points on 10-for-20 shooting from the floor and 6-for-11 from 3-point range. He also tallied seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots as well. 

Cameron Payne finished with 24 points while knocking down six of his 10 attempts from distance. Tobias Harris contributed 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. 

Without Embiid (meniscus) and Tyrese Maxey (hip tightness) in the lineup, the Sixers shot 59 percent from the floor. They also set a franchise record, hitting 24 three-point baskets. 

“When you’re playing without two main guys on offense, you have to find ways,” forward Nicolas Batum said after Sunday’s game.

Maxey is questionable for this matchup against the Thunder as well. And if he cannot suit up, the Sixers will need another proficient effort against a Thunder team with its eye on finishing with the best record in the Western Conference. 

Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let’s look at the betting trends for both sides. 

The Picks

The Spread

The OKC Thunder opened as a 5.5-point favorite. At the time of this writing, the line has not changed for the road team (per OddShark.com). Here is a look at how both ball clubs have fared against the spread this season. 

• The Thunder are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 outings.
• Oklahoma City is 2-5 ATS in their last seven matchups against Philadelphia.
• The Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last five road contests against the Sixers.
• In its last nine April games, OKC is 3-6 against the spread.
• Meanwhile, the Sixers are 5-1 ATS in their last six decisions.
• Philadelphia is 1-5 ATS in its last six home games against Oklahoma City.
• In their last six April games, the Sixers are 5-0-1 against the spread.

This season, the Thunder have been installed as at least a five-point favorite 32 times. Their record against the spread in those games is 19-13. 

On the other side of the narrative, the Sixers have been a five-point underdog or more 17 times this season. In those contests, they are 10-7 against the spread.

Given these trends, and the fact that Philadelphia could be without its top two scoring options again, going with the road team to cover is the smart play here. 

Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder (-5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 225.5 points. The line is holding steady at this threshold (per Pre-Game.com). Here is why going with the “over” is the smart choice. 

• The total has gone OVER four times in the Thunder’s last five games.
• In OKC’s 74 games, the OVER total has prevailed 42 times (56.8 percent).
• The OVER total is 4-1 in the Sixers’ last five contests.
• The total has gone OVER five times in Philadelphia’s last seven matchups against Northwest Division opponents. 
• The two teams average a combined 234.8 points per contest, which is 9.3 points higher than the projected points total for this matchup.

Prediction: OVER 225.5 points

Team Prop Bets

Because there are no player prop bets for the Sixers players right now, we will focus on the team prop bet angle instead. OKC currently has -115 odds of scoring more than 115.5 points and -115 odds of finishing with less than 115.5 points. 

Here is a look at how the team’s numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup. 

• During the season, the Thunder are averaging 120.4 points per game across 74 outings.
• In 37 road contests, OKC is averaging 122.9 points per contest.
• The Thunder have played against Eastern Conference teams 25 times this season. In those contests, they are averaging 121.8 points per outing.
• In eight matchups against Atlantic Division opponents, OKC is averaging 123.6 points per game.
• Over their last 10 outings, the Thunder have averaged 117.6 points per contest, exceeding the points total for this matchup seven times during that stretch.

Prediction: OKC Thunder OVER 115.5 points

On the other side of the narrative, the Sixers currently have -110 odds of scoring more than 110.5 points and -120 odds of finishing with less than 110.5 points. 

Do Philadelphia’s season numbers favorably compare to the estimated points total for this matchup? Let’s look at the tale of the tape to find out. 

• This season, the Sixers are averaging 114.4 points per game across 75 appearances.
• In 37 home contests, Philly is averaging 115.5 PPG.
• The Sixers have played against Western Conference teams 27 times this season. In those contests, they are averaging 113.7 points per outing.
• In nine matchups against Northwest Division opponents, Philadelphia is averaging 116.7 points per game.
• Over their last 10 outings, the Sixers have averaged 108.1 points per contest, exceeding the points total for this matchup three times during that stretch.

Prediction: Philadelphia 76ers OVER 110.5 points

James Tillman’s Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers Picks

• The Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (-5) OddShark
• Over/Under: OVER 225 points (Pre-Game.com/Draft Kings)
• Team Prop Bet #1: OKC Thunder OVER 115.5 points
• Team Prop Bet #2: Philadelphia 76ers OVER 110.5 points