Western Conference Finals Betting

The Oklahoma City Thunder will try and find an answer for Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks this Thursday night in an effort to tie this best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series at one game apiece. Tip-off from the American Airlines Center is set for 9 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

The good news is that Oklahoma City put up 112 points in Game 1 of this series against a Dallas defense that had only been allowing an average 90.4 points game. The bad news is that the Thunder gave up 121 points in the nine point loss as a six-point road underdog. They are now 6-6-1 against the spread in the playoffs overall and 2-3-1 ATS on the road. The total has also gone 6-6-1.

Kevin Durant carried his weight with 40 points while shooting 10-for-18 from the floor and 2-for-5 from three point range. The other half of the Thunders’ dynamic duo, Russell Westbrook shot just 16.7 percent from the floor and scored a total of 20 points. He will have to do a much better job shooting the ball if Oklahoma City is going to have any chance to win this game as it cannot simply rely on Durant to carry the load.

Dallas’s dominating win on Tuesday night begins and ends with the play of Nowitzki. He was basically unstoppable with 48 points, six rebounds, and four assists. What makes this performance even more amazing is the fact that he missed just three of his 15 shots from the field and was a perfect 24-for-24 from the free-throw line.

The Mavericks’ run through the playoffs has provided a windfall for anyone who has been riding the wave as they are now 10-0-1 ATS in the 11 games overall and a perfect 6-0 ATS on their home court. The total has gone ‘over’ in seven of the games.

The rust factor from Dallas’s eight-day layoff proved to be a non-factor as it picked up right where it left off after sweeping the Lakers. The Thunder will be game on Thursday night and have a good chance to keep this game closer than the first, but they are still going home in a 0-2 hole in this series. Now is not a good time to bet against the Mavericks’ perfect record ATS at home.