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In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook stumbles after injuring his right knee in the second quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Oklahoma City. Westbrook, who remained in the game, will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and be out indefinitely, dealing a harsh blow to the City Thunder’s championship chances
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 | 11:49 a.m.
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The two favorites to reach the NBA Championship tangle tonight in one of the league’s best games for several weeks.
Golden State, 2-to-1 at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook to win the Western Conference, is a 3.5-point underdog at Cleveland, 2-to-3 favorites in the East. But I’m tired of getting burned by the Cavaliers in the South Point-lined Play of the Day, so I’ll look to cross back over the starting $10,000 bankroll with a bet on the other NBA game.
Phoenix Suns plus-4.5 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: $418 to win $380
A week ago, the second game of TNT’s Thursday doubleheader shaped up as anticipated as the first. Oklahoma City and Phoenix were locked in a battle for the last Western Conference playoff spot that many thought would stretch until the final weeks of the season.
Now with the Thunder winning and covering in seven straight, it’s seen as a foregone conclusion that they’ll wind up on top — to everyone except for the Suns.
The Thunder’s streak typically isn’t the kind of run a gambler should rush to challenge, but the point spread here has gotten out of control. There’s no way Oklahoma City lays this many points on the road at Phoenix earlier this month, probably even with Kevin Durant.
Durant, by the way, won’t play as he continues to recover from foot surgery. Russell Westbrook will likely continue his unstoppable routine without Durant, but Enes Kanter is bound to tail off.
The trade-deadline acquisition from Utah is averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 58 percent with Oklahoma City, setting a pace higher than he’s destined to keep.
Phoenix is treating tonight’s game as the biggest of its season, which is wise. The Suns won’t go down as easily as everyone thinks.
Standings: Bern (67-61-1, $10,106), Keefer (65-66-2, $9,627), Brewer (60-70-3, $4,065)
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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