The Oklahoma City Thunder (29-20) look to lengthen their six-game road winning streak in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns (20-27) at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 31, 2020, and will air on Fox Sports – Arizona.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 222.5 points with Oklahoma City set as a 1-point favorite at PointsBet.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns ATS Prediction
The Thunder come in on a high note after comfortably covering the 2.5-point spread against the Sacramento Kings in their last contest, 120-100. The total points for the game (220) were just over the O/U total of 219.5. The Thunder knocked down 17 of their 20 free throws (85.0 percent) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.585 (above their season average of 0.533). With 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting, Dennis Schroder was the top scorer from either team.
In the Suns’ previous matchup, they had no trouble getting past the Dallas Mavericks, 133-104, despite being 7-point underdogs. The game’s total points (237) were over the O/U total of 228.5. The Suns, who came into the game averaging an effective field goal percentage of 0.523, had a fantastic mark of 0.663 and had a turnover percentage of 10.4 (better than their season average of 12.4). Devin Booker was the top scorer from either team with 32 points on 12-for-20 shooting from the field.
This is the second game of the season between these two squads. In the first, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 32 points and the Thunder beat the Suns 126-108, covering as 2.5-point favorites. The game finished with a total of 234 points, which was 9.5 points above the projected point total of 224.5 points. Oklahoma City’s effective field goal percentage was its biggest advantage over Phoenix. The Thunder had a rate of 0.621 while the Suns posted a mark of 0.500.
Oklahoma City comes into the contest with records of 29-20 straight up (SU) and 32-16-1 against the spread (ATS). Games including the Thunder have gone under the O/U total 53.1 percent of the time.
Meanwhile, Phoenix is 20-27 SU and 24-22-1 ATS. Unlike Oklahoma City, a little over half of Suns games have finished over the projected point total.
A focal point for the Phoenix offense is getting to the free throw line. The Suns rank fifth in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.222), but Oklahoma City is among the best in the league at keeping opponents away from the charity stripe (ranking first by yielding a FTA rate of 0.159). Also, the Thunder, who rank 30th in offensive rebounding percentage (19.3 percent), will face off against the Suns, who rank fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (79.3 percent).
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns Pick
Pick: ATS Winner – Thunder, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
Oklahoma City is 19-5 ATS on the road with 14 unders and 10 overs.
At home, Phoenix is 10-14-1 ATS with 15 overs and 10 unders.
When holding opponents under 100 points, Phoenix is 6-2 and Oklahoma City is 7-3.
The Suns are 19-22 when they reach 100 points, while the Thunder are 28-12.
Phoenix ranks second in assists per game (27.3) while Oklahoma City ranks 26th (22.1).
The Thunder rank fourth in blocks allowed per game (4.2) while the Suns rank 27th (5.6).
Phoenix ranks 10th in fast break points per game (14.3) while Oklahoma City ranks last (9.3).
The Suns rank fourth in points off turnovers per game (18.5) while the Thunder rank 21st (16.2).
Oklahoma City ranks fourth in steals allowed per game (6.9) while Phoenix ranks 18th (7.9).
The Suns rank 18th in three pointers attempted per game (32.2) while the Thunder rank 28th (29.9).
Phoenix averages 48.2 points in the paint per game, which ranks 13th in the NBA. Oklahoma City ranks 23rd in points allowed in the paint per game (49.8).
The Suns rank 24th in second chance points per game (12.2) while the Thunder rank 29th (10.6).
In its last five games, Oklahoma City is 4-1 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Phoenix is 2-3 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs over its last five games.
The Thunder’s average margin of victory in their last five games has been 10.8, up from 2.6 for the season.
During their last five games, the Suns have scored an average of 110.0 points per game (3.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 109.8 points per game (3.7 below their season average).
