Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

sports betting:

Vegas Play of the Day: Memphis at Oklahoma City

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point.

Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

Memphis plus-8 at Oklahoma City: $330 to win $300: This is Oklahoma City’s first game back at Chesapeake Energy Arena after a three-game road trip, which is enough for me to take the points with the Grizzlies.

It’s actually a simple handicapping strategy.

When betting professional basketball and baseball, always wager against a team in its first game home after a road swing — OKC has actually played six of seven games on the road. My philosophy is simple: Players are content after finally returning to their families and sleeping in their own beds, and aren’t always at their best playing hours after getting home to a familiar setting. I know it sounds crazy, but in baseball, the theory has been accurate more times than not.

OK, now for some better reasoning.

Memphis has won 11 of its past 12 games, including six straight, and appear to be one of the Western Conference’s best teams with center Marc Gasol back in the lineup after an injury.

Sure, Oklahoma City had a 10-game winning streak going into Saturday’s loss at Washington, and Kevin Durant is scoring in bunches. Memphis, however, is equally hot. And, I’m not certain OKC has an answer for Gasol in the post.

Standings: Bern (4-4, $9,590), Brewer (3-4-1, $9,530), Keefer (4-7, $8,517.50)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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