Oklahoma City (29-20) at Phoenix (20-27)
When: Friday, January 31st, 2020
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena,
Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: FS Arizona
Opening Odds: Oklahoma City -1/222.5
It has been since the 2017-18 season when the Phoenix Suns last beat the Oklahoma City Thunder – a string of seven games – but this Friday night’s game will be the smallest spread in that span. The Thunder have been favored by three points or more in each of the last seven games, covering the spread in six of them, but the Thunder are giving up just a single point this time to the improving Suns. Phoenix rolled to a 133-104 victory at the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday as seven-point underdogs behind a sizzling 59.3 percent shooting night to stay within striking distance of eighth place in the West. The Thunder come into this contest on a roll, winning six of their last seven games to distance themselves from the No. 8 spot in the playoff race. Oklahoma City began a two-game road trip by earning a 120-100 victory at Sacramento on Wednesday after their five-game winning streak was snapped with a 107-97 home loss to Dallas on Monday. The Thunder were just three-point home favorites when they beat Phoenix 126-108 on Dec. 20.
Oklahoma City handed out 32 assists and shot 50 percent from the floor in the win over the Kings and are 4.5 games ahead of eighth place Memphis and just one game out of fifth place in the Western Conference. Dennis Schroder scored a team-high 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting in Wednesday’s win and is averaging 24.3 points in his last six games, while going 19-of-34 from beyond the arc in that span. The Thunder knocked down 15 3-pointers on Wednesday with rookie shooting guard Luguentz Dort draining 5-of-6 and finishing with a season-high 23 points. OKC will open a four-game homestand on Wednesday when they entertain the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Phoenix broke the game open versus the Mavericks by winning the third quarter 48-22 and are 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot entering Thursday’s action. Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker had big games with the former scoring a season-high 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting while adding nine rebounds on Tuesday. Booker, the team’s leading scorer (27.1), recorded 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting to score 30 or more for the fifth time in the last six games. The Suns will head East for three games in four days beginning Super Bowl Sunday at Milwaukee.
The Suns are an improving team and play well in the underdog roll, going 7-2 ATS in their last nine such spots. Look for Ayton and Booker to have big games and give the Suns a nice home victory.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Friday. He is 53-43-3 on the season after a 6-0 run!
Pick: Suns +1
Thunder are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Thunder are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Thunder are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Friday games.
Thunder are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
Thunder are 20-6 ATS in their last 26 road games.
Thunder are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 games playing on 1 days rest.
Thunder are 23-8 ATS in their last 31 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS win.
Thunder are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Thunder are 24-9 ATS in their last 33 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Thunder are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a straight up win.
Thunder are 35-17 ATS in their last 52 games overall.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Suns are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
Suns are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Suns are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Suns are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Suns are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Suns are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Over is 13-3 in Thunder last 16 games as a road favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 Friday games.
Over is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Over is 7-2 in Thunder last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 8-3 in Thunder last 11 overall.
Over is 8-3 in Thunder last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Thunder last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Thunder last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 35-17 in Thunder last 52 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-0 in Suns last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-1 in Suns last 6 home games.
Under is 6-2 in Suns last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Suns last 11 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Suns last 7 games as a home underdog.
Over is 5-2 in Suns last 7 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 5-2 in Suns last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 7-3 in Suns last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Phoenix.
Thunder are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
