The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to extend their winning streak to eight games when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. Oklahoma City, which has also won 14 of its last 15 contests, is tipping off a four-game home-stand. Memphis, which halted a three-game skid by beating Utah on Tuesday, is wrapping up a five-game road trip.
With Thunder vs. Grizzlies starting at 8 PM ET, it’s time to break down the matchup and discuss the best bets to make.
Thunder vs Grizzlies Predictions
- THUNDER -10 (-110)
- UNDER 237.5 (-110)
- DESMOND BANE OVER 19.5 POINTS (-125)
PICK #1: Thunder -10 (-110)
This showdown is a potential Western Conference semifinal preview, but there is no doubt that a sizable gap exists between the two teams. Nobody in the West is anywhere near the same ballpark as the Thunder. At 60-12, they own a 13.5-game lead atop the conference; they are also at least four games ahead of every other team in basketball now that the Cleveland Cavaliers (58-14) have lost four of their last six games.
Oklahoma City is crushing opponents, too. Its two most recent home victories have come by 35 and 33 points, plus it is coming off a 16-point road rout of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. As if the Thunder need any help, Jalen Williams (hip) has a chance to return tonight after missing the last seven contests due to a hip injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is well on his way to NBA MVP honors, has scored at least 30 points in 10 of the last 12 outings – including four games with at least 40 (one of which was a 51-point barrage).
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have lost three of their last four games and are without Ja Morant because of a hamstring injury. In three head-to-head matchups during the 2024-25 campaign, OKC is 3-0 and has prevailed by 24, 13 and 17 points.
PICK #2: Under 237.5 (-110)
Just as the trends point toward a convincing win for Oklahoma City, they also forecast a low-scoring affair – at least relative to a lofty 237.5-game total. In the three meetings between these two Western Conference foes this season, there haven't been more than 236 points scored. They faced each other in Memphis earlier this month, and the result was a modest 223 points, with Memphis contributing only 103.
The Grizzlies play at the fastest pace in the NBA (107.0 possessions per game), but they are right in the middle of the pack in that department over the last three games. Against a far superior opponent and with Morant on the sidelines, they will want to slow things down considerably in this one. Memphis has put up 108 or fewer in two of its last three contests, while Oklahoma City has held six consecutive opponents to no more than 107 points.
PICK #3: Desmond Bane Over 19.5 points (-135)
Morant has been sidelined for almost two weeks, and Bane has thrived in his absence. The TCU product has scored at least 20 points in four of the last five games without Memphis’ star player on the floor, including a 44-point outburst at Sacramento on 7-for-7 shooting from three-point range.
Bane is making 44.9 percent of his three-point attempts during March and is an amazing 17-for-28 from downtown over the past five outings. The 26-year-old has reached the 20-point mark twice in three games against Oklahoma City this season, so look for more of the same tonight.
