Thunder vs Lakers Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NBA Picks Today (3/4): It’s Showtime!

Today’s Thunder vs Lakers prediction and NBA best bets are brought to you by Bovada. Bovada is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the NBA to the UFC and everything in between.

The NBA has a six-game slate lined up for Monday, March 4, including a showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-18) and Los Angeles Lakers (33-29) at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

⚡️ 🆚 ☀️ @royceyoung boils it down into 3 things. pic.twitter.com/G7RDTSidiK

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 4, 2024

The Thunder were in action less than 24 hours ago, picking up a 118-110 win over the Phoenix Suns behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35-point effort. Meanwhile, the Lakers aim to return to the win column following Saturday’s 124-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets that saw LeBron James become the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 points.

When it comes to the 2023-24 NBA Finals odds, Oklahoma City Thunder is currently tied for fifth at +1600 while Los Angeles is tied for ninth (+2600), per Bovada’s futures markets.

Looking to get in on the Thunder vs. Lakers betting action? Let’s jump into my predictions and best bets to get started.

Thunder vs Lakers NBA Betting Tonight (3/4)

Thunder vs Lakers Matchup Information

• Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder (42-18, 18-12 Away) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (33-29, 21-10 Home)
• Venue & Location: crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, CA)
• Date: Monday, March 4, 2024
• Game Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Thunder vs. Lakers: NBA TV

Lakers vs Thunder Odds & Spread

Lakers vs. Thunder odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Monday, March 4 at 10:22 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Thunder vs Lakers Spread

• Oklahoma City Thunder +1 (-110)
• Los Angeles Lakers -1 (-110)

Lakers vs Thunder Over/Under

• Over 238 Points (-110)
• Under 238 Points (-110)

Thunder vs Lakers Moneyline

• Oklahoma City Thunder (-105)
• Los Angeles Lakers (-115)

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Best Bets and Picks Tonight

Looking to get in on even more NBA picks today? Check out our NBA Picks page for consensus picks for every 2023-24 season game.

You can also check out:

• NBA betting odds
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Thunder vs Lakers NBA Betting Trends

• Oklahoma City is 5-2 straight up in its last seven games played on Monday.
• The Lakers are 4-1 straight up in their last five games vs. Oklahoma City.
• Oklahoma City is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games.
• The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games.
• The total hit the Over in four of Oklahoma City’s last six games vs. the Lakers.
• The total hit the Over in seven of the Lakers’ last 10 games vs. the Northwest Division.

Thunder vs Lakers Prediction & NBA Picks Today (3/4): Los Angeles Aims for Series Win

Tonight’s showdown is the fourth and final clash between the Thunder and Lakers this season. Although OKC won the first meeting in November, Los Angeles won the subsequent two, most recently tallying a 112-105 victory at crypto.com Arena on Jan. 15. LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined for 52 points that night, leaving time to tell if the Lakers can complete the series victory tonight.

If the Lakers want to beat the Thunder, though, they need a better effort than they showed against the Nuggets. Not only was Los Angeles heavily outrebounded that game (47-31), but it also allowed Denver to sink 42.3% of its three-point attempts.

Unfortunately for Darvin Ham’s team, the Thunder have one of the most dangerous perimeter attacks in the NBA, averaging 13.4 threes made (10th) on 39.5% shooting (1st). Oklahoma City’s rebounding is far from the best (48.7 RPG, 28th), but it is outrebounding Los Angeles 130-129 through three games this season.

Will the Thunder continue to outrebounded the Lakers tonight? 

Although some teams struggle when playing the second half of back-to-backs, that hasn’t been the case for the Thunder, who are 7-3 SU when playing with zero days of rest this season. Nevertheless, this game does mark their fourth outing in six nights, making it interesting to see if the jam-packed schedule finally catches up.

For reference, the Lakers are 22-15 when playing with exactly one day of rest during the 2023-24 schedule.

Los Angeles has also been rock solid at home lately, going 6-2 SU with a plus-6.8 average scoring margin across the last eight home games. While Oklahoma City is 3-1 SU in its last four road games, it’s also 2-5 SU in its seven previous away matchups against the Lakers.

The Lakers have excelled at defending home court against the Thunder in recent years. 

The Thunder have been the better team throughout the season, but let’s take the Lakers to win tonight. Not only are they the more well-rested team at the moment, but the Lakers have the advantage of playing this matchup at home. They decisively beat the Thunder at home less than two months ago, so doing so again tonight shouldn’t be that much of an issue — especially with how heavy OKC’s schedule has been lately.

Backing the Lakers on the spread also makes sense given how close it is.  They outscored the Thunder by an average of eight points across the last two meetings on top of being 4-1 ATS across the last five matchups between these teams. Don’t underestimate the home team tonight.

Thunder vs Lakers Prediction: LAL wins

Best Thunder vs Lakers NBA Bet: LAL -1 (-110)

Get 50% up to $750 on your Thunder vs. Lakers pick today over at Bovada

Best Thunder vs Lakers NBA Prop Bet (3/4)

There are a few Thunder vs. Lakers player props that stick out tonight, including Anthony Davis to record over 39.5 points and rebounds.

Davis has been terrific as far as this prop is concerned lately, averaging 27.3 points and 13.6 rebounds in his last seven games (40.9 P/R). He’s also made good on this prop twice in three meetings against the Thunder this season, averaging 28.0 points and 13.3 rebounds along the way. In fact, he’s hit the Over in three of his last four games against OKC, too.

After racking up 27 points and 15 rebounds when the Lakers and Thunder last clashed in January, there’s no reason to begin doubting Davis now.

Best Thunder vs Lakers Prop Bet: Anthony Davis o39.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)

Get 50% up to $1,000 on this NBA prop pick today over at Bovada

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