NBA Playoff Preview: Oklahoma at Golden State, Game 1

On Monday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be in Oakland to take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their Western Conference final series. The Thunder eliminated the Dallas Mavericks, 4-1, in the opening round and then shocked the San Antonio Spurs, sending them home early by a 4-2 margin. The Warriors eliminated the Houston Rockets, 4-1, and did the same thing to the Portland Trail Blazers. After missing five games in the postseason with ankle and knee ailments, Stephen Curry is set to be on the floor for the opener of this series. Find the latest NHL betting odds here.

NBA Playoff Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors, Game 1

When: Monday, May 16, 2016, 9:00 PM Eastern time Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland TV: TNT Radio: KNBR 680 AM Oakland Live Stream: NBA-Stream.com NBA Odds: TBA    

Why should you bet on Oklahoma City?

It’s true that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are a scoring tandem that can rival, if not outduel, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Warriors did win all three meetings between the two teams this season, but they were all close, including the one that Curry iced with a 37-foot buzzer beater at the end of overtime. The real story for the Thunder against San Antonio was not this dynamic duo but instead was the pair of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter. Against an aging Tim Duncan, they were able to dominate the interior. The Warriors do not have a strong inside game thanks to their small ball emphasis, and these two could make the difference again, changing shots on Warrior drives and pulling down boards on both ends, giving the Thunder second chance points while denying the Warriors the same opportunity.

Why should you put your money on the Warriors?

The Warriors have lost twice at home this season, but you could argue that their attention was definitely wandering as their dominance was showing itself. They lost to a good Boston team at home, and then they lost to a young (but not very good) Timberwolves team at home. Since then, they have sliced and diced the opposition at home. The Trail Blazers pushed the Warriors to overtime, only to see Stephen Curry drop 17 on them in the extra frame. The Warriors absorb punches and keep bringing more. Can the Thunder finally stop them? We’ll have to see.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Until the Thunder beat Golden State on the road, I don’t see a reason to bet on them, especially with the Warriors at full strength. I’m predicting a 111-106 Golden State win.