The Oklahoma City Thunder joins the Play-In race with the Western Conference heating up. The No. 8 seed team shares a similar record with the Mavs, Lakers, and Pelicans. Utah also looks to spoil the party with a record not far off from the aforementioned. This is crunch time for the young squad as they try to make a first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 season. Meanwhile, it’s the same story for their upcoming opponents, the Los Angeles Lakers. Darvin Ham and his boys build pace with two-straight wins in the bag. They will try to secure another W at home in hopes of getting out of the Play-In zone and grabbing a guaranteed playoff spot.

Nitrobetting shares the latest news, NBA odds, and special features throughout the 2022-23 NBA season. Let’s get a closer look at the upcoming Thunder vs. Lakers face-off in this preview.

Thunder vs. Lakers Game Information

Good morning, Lakers family pic.twitter.com/DeS9Xjye0N

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 23, 2023

• When: Friday, March 24, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
• TV: SPECSN, BSOK
• Radio: WWLS-The Sports Animal 98.1 FM (Thunder) // 710 ESPNLA (Lakers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Thunder (+5.5) // Lakers (-5.5)

READ MORE: Suns vs. Kings 2023 NBA Odds and Preview – March 24th

Why Bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Despite losing two key players this season, including first-round and second-overall pick Chet Holmgren, and 28-year-old guard Kenrich Williams, the Thunder managed to work their way up to a possible playoff position. They won five of their last seven games and are only a game behind the No. 7 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. If Mark Daigneault and his boys continue this pace, we might just see this young core team duke it out with the favorites come April.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been performing tremendously for OKC. The former Clippers guard is averaging 31.39 points per game on 35.59 minutes on the floor. He also leads the team in steals with 1.67 per game, to go with 4.82 boards and 5.48 assists per game. Three other double-digit scorers join him, featuring Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey. Meanwhile, Giddey’s 16.12 points per game average are fortified by team-best figures of 7.81 rebounds and 6.13 assists per game.

As a team, the Thunder record a fifth-best points record at 117.6 per game. They accomplish this with a 46.7% shooting and a respectable 80.7% free-throw percentage. On defense, the squad limits opponents to 116.2 points per game on 47.0% shooting.

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

LeBron James is only expected to return at the end of the month. Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell have been exceptional in the last few games, scoring double-figures and playing instrumental roles in their last two wins versus the Suns and the Magic. Anthony Davis awaits a game-time decision but puts up solid numbers when we see him on the floor. AD is the second-best scorer on the team with 25.85 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 12.43 boards per game.

The Lakers are a solid team on both ends. They average 116.5 points per game on 47.9% shooting–both are top-ten numbers in 2022-23. They hold opponents to 116.7 points per game on an eighth-best 46.8% shooting. More than that, the team dominates rebounding with 53.9 total boards per game.

It’s going to be a testing few weeks for the Lakers. However, the team continues to fire on cylinders late into the season. If no more injuries get in the way and the relatively new squad starts to connect on the floor, there’s a good chance that the franchise secures a postseason appearance after missing out last year.

Thunder vs. Lakers Betting Trends

• The Thunder are 3-2 in the last five road games (3-2 ATS).
• The Thunder are 3-3 in the last six games against the Lakers (3-3 ATS).
• The totals went over in two of the Thunder’s last five meetings with the Lakers.
• The Lakers are 3-2 in the last five games at Crypto.com Arena (2-3 ATS).
• The Lakers are 3-2 in the last five home games versus the Thunder (1-4 ATS).
• The totals went under in three of the Lakers’ last five home games.

Thunder vs. Lakers Expert Betting Prediction

The Lakers should be the favorites here given that home advantage is on their side. But, it’s important to consider that the Thunder are playing well leading up to the game. Both are fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament or maybe even a sixth-seed finish. Covering the spread should be doable for the visitors. Given their previous results and competitive numbers, this game might just go down the wire in the dying minutes. Ultimately, this Thunder vs. Lakers skirmish is a must-watch for basketball fans and bettors.

Where to Bet on the 2022-23 NBA season with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2023 NBA Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire NBA Season betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2022-23 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.