On March Madness lines betting eve this Wednesday, we have a key matchup in the NBA as teams are making their final push for the playoffs. Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will travel to Charlotte to take on Gerald Wallace and the Bobcats.
Oklahoma City Thunder (41-24, 5th in Western Conference) @ Charlotte Bobcats (34-31, t-6th in Eastern Conference)
NBA Odds: (*note lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing)
Spread: Thunder -3.5
Over/Under: 208
Money Line: Thunder -160, Bobcats +135
Sportsbook: Key Matchups
Bronze Medal: Will Gerald Wallace play, and can they win without him?
All-Star forward Gerald Wallace has a sprained ankle that kept him out of the Bobcats previous game at Orlando. The Bobcats dug deep in that game and came out on top, 96-89. Wallace is expected to miss Tuesday night's game and his status for Wednesday is in doubt. Wallace's 18.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and defensive skills will surely be missed against the likes of Kevin Durant, significantly more than against Rashard Lewis. If Wallace plays, he may not be at full speed, a big problem versus the likely runner up in the MVP race this season.
Advantage: Thunder
Silver Medal: Steven Jackson vs. Thabo Sefolosha
Charlotte has rolled off six straight wins starting with a 15 point win over the Lakers and most recently a seven point win over Orlando. G Steven Jackson has assumed the role of primary scoring option with Wallace out and put up 28 against the Magic. Thabo Sefolosha will be guarding Jackson and is a defensive specialist who can match Jackson's size and speed and limit his productivity. To make matters worse, the Bobcats will be playing in back to back nights with a plane ride from Indiana back to Charlotte included. Jackson has played 43 minutes in consecutive games and asking him to do that with the latter being against the Thunder and the likes of Sefolosha and Durant if he's forced to play the three, the Bobcats will likely struggle.
Gold Medal: Kevin Durant vs. Steven Graham
Without Wallace, or a limited version of him with a bum ankle, Steven Graham will get the daunting task of guarding Kevin Durant. Graham is a four year veteran out of Oklahoma State and had averaged 11 minutes a game this year before playing 30 in Orlando with 12 points and 6 rebounds on 4-8 shooting. Graham is only 6'6" and Durant at 6'10" with an incredulous wingspan will have no problem shooting over him all day. It could get ugly for Graham and the Bobcats would not be wise to have their main scoring option, Steven Jackson cover Durant in a three guard set and waste his energy trying fruitlessly to hold Durant to 30. KD is averaging 29.8 points (2nd in NBA by.1, LeBron James 1st) and 7.5 rebounds a game.
Advantage: Thunder
Sportsbook Review: Prediction
The Bobcats are a phenomenal home team, 24-8, but without their best player and a poor matchup for their second best player, don't expect Boris Diaw, Ray Felton and Theo Ratliff to be able to steal this game away from the best young team in the NBA with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and Durant on the court.
Final: Thunder 108 – Bobcats 91.
So, while you're working on your March Madness betting, take the Thunder -3.5.