Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington-wizards Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Washington-Wizards December 23rd 2024

At 8:00 ET, the Thunder (-2300) will host the Wizards (+1102) in a non-conference matchup. The Thunder (22-5) are currently on a 7-game win streak and are favored by 18 points over the Wizards (4-22).

This game will take place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 1st in the Western Conference, while the Wizards are 15th in the East.

Wizards vs. Thunder Key Information

The Wizards fell to 4-22 on the season after a 112-101 road loss to the Bucks on Saturday. Washington entered the game as +8.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread, losing by 11. The total score of 213 points fell short of the 218.5 O/U line.

Washington started strong, tying the game at 36 after the 1st quarter, but a 14-0 run by the Bucks in the 2nd quarter put them in a hole. The Wizards were outscored 27-14 in the 2nd quarter and trailed 86-72 going into the 4th, where they outscored the Bucks 29-26.

In their 112-101 loss to the Bucks, the Wizards connected on 18 threes, shooting 42.9% from deep. Overall, they shot 44.4% from the field.

Jordan Poole hit 8 threes at a 61.5% clip, finishing with 26 points, including 16 in the 1st quarter. Bilal Coulibaly added 20 points and 12 rebounds, scoring 9 points in the 4th quarter.

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Despite a strong defensive effort in the 3rd quarter, where they held the Bucks to just 23 points, the Wizards couldn’t overcome a rough 1st quarter, giving up 36 points in a 112-101 loss. Washington allowed Milwaukee to shoot 44% from the field.

The Wizards struggled to defend the three-point line, as the Bucks hit 20 threes at a 41% clip. Washington sent Milwaukee to the line just 5 times, where they made 4 free throws. The Wizards finished with 7 steals and 4 blocks.

The Thunder improved to 22-5 on the season with a 104-97 win over the Heat on Friday. Oklahoma City, favored by 1 point, covered the spread with the 7-point victory. The total score of 201 points fell short of the 217-point over/under line.

After a 12-0 run by the Heat, the Thunder regained control by outscoring Miami 31-23 in the 3rd quarter. Oklahoma City entered the 4th quarter with an 81-70 lead and held on despite being outscored 27-23 in the final period.

Jalen Williams led the Thunder to a win over the Heat, scoring 33 points and hitting 4 threes at 57.1% from deep. He also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 48% from the field. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, though he shot just 40% overall and 33.3% from three.

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The Thunder made 14 threes as a team, shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc. Luguentz Dort knocked down 4 threes at 80% efficiency, finishing with 14 points. Williams scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 13 in the 3rd.

The Thunder put together a strong defensive performance on Friday, holding the Heat to just 97 points. They were consistent throughout, allowing 25 points in the 1st quarter, 22 in the 2nd, 23 in the 3rd, and 27 in the 4th. Oklahoma City limited Miami to 43% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Thunder held the Heat to 30% shooting, with Miami making only 12 threes. Oklahoma City also sent the Heat to the line 20 times, where they converted 13 free throws. The Thunder finished with 36 defensive rebounds, gave up 7 offensive boards, and added 8 steals and 5 blocks.

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +18, the Wizards is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 223.5, and our model predicts the Wizards and Thunder to score a combined 254 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Surging Thunder Host Struggling Wizards

The Oklahoma City Thunder, riding a seven-game winning streak, will face the league’s bottom-dwelling Washington Wizards on Monday night in Oklahoma City. The matchup pits the top team in the Western Conference against the NBA’s worst record.

Thunder on the Rise

Oklahoma City has won seven consecutive regular-season games, including two straight following their NBA Cup final loss. Despite a grueling schedule that included travel to Florida for back-to-back games immediately after the tournament, the Thunder have maintained their momentum.

“These guys are monsters competitively,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the team’s 104-97 win over the Miami Heat on Friday.

The Thunder return home for just their third game in Oklahoma City since Nov. 20, aiming for their first eight-game winning streak since January 2018.

The team’s youth-driven roster has embraced a collective leadership philosophy. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead by example as a two-time All-Star, Daigneault emphasizes a shared leadership model.

“The leader is the person doing the right thing,” Daigneault said. “We really try to make leadership accessible to everybody through your actions, not necessarily your words. We make leadership entitled to no one.”

Jalen Williams is coming off his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 33 points against Miami. Williams showcased his versatility with four 3-pointers and seven free throws, rebounding from frustration after not earning any trips to the line in the previous game.

Wizards’ Struggles

Washington continues to reel, losing 20 of its last 22 games, including 11 straight on the road. The Wizards’ lone road victory came on Oct. 28. They most recently fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 112-101 on Saturday.

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One bright spot for the Wizards has been the emergence of second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly. Over the last five games, Coulibaly is averaging 19.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. This marks a significant improvement from his first 20 games, where he averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.

“There’s a physical stamina but also a mental stamina element,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “To be able to stay focused, locked in, and then have the energy to do it on both ends, pretty impressive. He’s growing with that, not there yet for sure, but he’s making strides.”

Key Notes

• Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso signed a four-year, $81 million contract extension on Sunday, further solidifying the Thunder’s defensive core.
• The Thunder have swept the season series with the Wizards in each of the past two seasons and will look to continue their dominance against Washington.
• Monday’s game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

Oklahoma City’s mix of young talent and relentless competitiveness makes them heavy favorites, but the Wizards will aim to disrupt the Thunder’s surge with another standout performance from Coulibaly.