Thunder vs. Blazers Game 3 Betting Preview: Expect an OKC Bounce Back?
Portland Trail Blazers take a 2-0 series lead over Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are motivated to bounce back at home.
The Thunder shot a combined 10-61 (16.4%) from 3-point range in the first two games of this series. The last team to shoot worse than 20% from the 3 in three straight playoff games was the 1999 Atlanta Hawks. The teams who lose their first 2 games and are listed as 7-points favorites in Game 3 are 2-3 straight up and 1-4 against the spread since 2005.
Thunder vs. Blazers Game 3 Betting Preview: Expect an OKC Bounce Back? 2018 Sixers (-9.5) vs BOS (L, 101-98), 2010 Spurs (-7) against PHX (W, 110-96), 2008 Lakers (- 9. 5) v. Bos (87-81), and 2008 Suns (- 7.7 v., SAS (115-99).
The Thunder are -8 currently but -6 in the first half of the Game 3. The market is aware of some correlation between the 0-2 home team and the strong first-half. However, the Blazers made it a habit the second half the season of playing very well on the road. They are one of rare teams that had a better Net Rating on road than at home. Billy Donovan would not throw away Game 2 and implement adjustments in Game3. The Thunder may get out to a big first the lead, but based on what we’ve seen so far and their lack of adjustments available, that lead may be short lived.
The Thunder have been poor in the last two games of the series against the Blazers. Kevin Durant and James Harden are good at shooting 3-pointers. The Thunder weren't a good shooting team in their previous season. Portland is good in 3 points, but they're also bad at defending the rim. The Blazers are first in playoffs in three-point percentage, while the Thunder are 22nd in percentage. Bryan Mears is intrigued by the second-half trends mentioned above. He thinks the game is closer to a stay-away than a surefire bet on the OKC team.
The Thunder are playing at a slower pace in the playoffs. The Thunder had the fourth-best Defensive Rating at home this season. Matt Moore is taking OKC -6 in first half and taking a narrow margin. The Blazers' total is at 107. If the Thunder lose this game, it will be because of the defense.
