Thunder vs Suns Prediction NBA Picks Experts 4/2

Thunder vs Suns Prediction NBA Picks Experts 4/2

© Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

 

Game Preview: Suns vs Thunder - NBA Picks, Expert Predictions, and More

On April 2, 2023, the Phoenix Suns (42-35) will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder (38-40) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Suns are on a four-game winning streak and will look to extend it against the Thunder, who are currently sitting in the 10th spot in the Western Conference. According to NBA picks experts, the Suns have a slight advantage in this matchup. The computer NBA picks also predict a win for the Suns, but as any true NBA fan knows, anything can happen on the court. The Thunder are ranked 8th in the league in fast break points per game with 14.9, led by their star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is averaging 4.0. The Suns, on the other hand, are last in the league in scoring fast break points, with only 10.5 per game. In their last matchup on March 19, the Thunder won 124-120, with Gilgeous-Alexander proving to be the difference-maker with a stunning 40-point performance. Devin Booker also had an impressive showing for the Suns, scoring 46 points. Heading into this game, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for the Thunder, while Josh Giddey has been a key player over the past 10 games with his average of 18.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and six assists per game. For the Suns, Booker is averaging 28.1 points and 5.4 assists per game, while Chris Paul has been consistent with his average of 13.1 points over the last 10 games. NBA picks and parlay experts recommend keeping an eye on the Suns, who have gone 27-20 against Western Conference opponents this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder have a 23-25 record in conference matchups. The game is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, at 7 p.m. ET. With so much on the line, this will undoubtedly be an exciting game to watch for all NBA fans.

 

Suns: Offensive Analysis

The Suns are heading into their matchup against the Thunder on a four-game win streak, hoping to extend it with a strong offensive performance. However, they have their work cut out for them as they are ranked 18th in the league in points per game with an average of 113.5. Phoenix has struggled on the fastbreak, ranking last in the league with only 10.5 fastbreak points per game. This is something they will need to address if they hope to come out on top against the Thunder, who rank eighth in the league with 14.9 fastbreak points per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Suns have fared well against Western Conference opponents this season with a record of 27-20. But, they will need to step up their scoring game to take down the Thunder, who have a strong offense ranked fifth in the league with an average of 117.4 points per game. Chris Paul will need to step up his game as he is averaging just 13.1 points over the last 10 games for Phoenix. Phoenix has a respectable ranking of third in the league for assists per game, averaging 27.3. However, they need to work on their effective field goal percentage, which is ranked 22nd in the league at 53.4%. They will also need to improve their points in the paint, ranking only 26th in the league with an average of 45.9 points per game. In conclusion, if the Suns want to continue their win streak and beat the Thunder, they will need to improve their fastbreak game, points in the paint, and effective field goal percentage. They will also need a strong offensive effort from Chris Paul and Devin Booker to counter the strong offense of the Thunder. NBA picks experts and computer NBA picks predicted a close game, but the Suns have the potential to come out on top if they can fine-tune their offense.

Suns: Defensive Analysis

The Phoenix Suns are on a four-game winning streak and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Suns have gone 27-20 against Western Conference opponents and will look to continue their winning momentum against the Thunder. In terms of defense, the Suns rank fourth in the league in points allowed per game with an average of 111.5. They also rank eighth in opponent field goal percentage with 46.6%. However, their weakness lies in their ability to stop fastbreak points as they rank last in the league with only 10.5 fastbreak points per game. To counter the Thunder's fastbreak tactics, the Suns will have to rely on their strong defense in the half-court setting. Led by Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, the Suns have shown great defensive performances in their recent games. They will have to maintain their defensive intensity and make sure they limit the Thunder's opportunities to score easy points. The Suns will also have to keep an eye on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. They will need to contain him and not allow him to have a repeat of his 40-point game against them in their last matchup. Overall, the Suns have the defensive capability to stop the Thunder and extend their winning streak. However, they will need to focus on limiting fastbreak points and controlling Gilgeous-Alexander to secure the win.

Thunder: Offense Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder face off against the Phoenix Suns in a game that will feature two teams with different offensive approaches. As per the NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer, the Suns are the stronger team offensively, ranking 18th in the league with 113.5 points per game, as compared to the Thunder, who rank in 5th with 117.4 points per game. Looking at the Thunder's stats, their offense value ranks low in key areas such as fastbreak points per game, three-point percentage, and effective field goal percentage, which could be a concern for the team's performance in the upcoming game. However, the Thunder have shown offensive strengths in points in the paint, total rebounds, and assists per game. The team's standout player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leads the Thunder in scoring, averaging 31.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Josh Giddey has also been a solid contributor, averaging 18.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and six assists over the past 10 games. The Suns, on the other hand, have a more balanced offensive approach, ranking high in areas such as assists per game, total rebounds, and fastbreak points per game. Devin Booker has been the leading scorer for the Suns, averaging 28.1 points and 5.4 assists per game. Chris Paul has also been a dependable playmaker, averaging 13.1 points over the last 10 games. Overall, the Thunder's offense will need to improve in key areas to keep up with the Suns' offensive firepower. The NBA picks and parlay forecast a tough game for the Thunder, but with Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey leading the way, they may have a fighting chance.

Thunder: Defensive Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Phoenix Suns on April 2, 2023, in a game where their defense will play a critical role. Our analysis of the Thunder's defense, based on their performance over the last 10 games, suggests that they can be a formidable force against the Suns. The Thunder have been averaging 114.9 points per game over the last 10 games, which is a decent performance. However, their defense has been impressive, allowing only 117.4 points per game to their opponents. This indicates that their defense is capable of containing even the toughest offenses in the league. One area where the Thunder have excelled is in fastbreak points. They are averaging 14.9 fastbreak points per game, which is the eighth-best in the league. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 4.0 fastbreak points per game, the Thunder can be dangerous in transition. Moreover, the Thunder's defense has been effective in limiting their opponent's fastbreak points. They are allowing only 11.9 fastbreak points per game, which is the third-lowest in the league. This suggests that the Suns will have a tough time getting easy points in transition. Another area where the Thunder's defense has been dominant is in the paint. They are allowing only 50.4 points in the paint per game, which is the 16th-best in the league. This means that the Suns will have to rely on their outside shooting to score points. In terms of steals, the Thunder rank fourth in the league with 7.7 steals per game. This suggests that their defense is designed to force turnovers and score easy points in transition. Overall, the Thunder's defense has been impressive over the last 10 games. They have been effective in limiting their opponents' scoring opportunities in the paint and in transition. With their strong performance on defense, the Thunder could pose a major threat to the Suns in the upcoming game.

 

Injury Report

Both teams are relatively healthy coming into this game. The Thunder will be without Chet Holmgren (foot) and Kenrich Williams (wrist), both of whom are out for the season. The Suns, on the other hand, do not have anyone on their injury report. This bodes well for both teams as they look to secure spots in the Western Conference playoffs. With their respective four- and five-game win streaks, the Suns and Thunder will be looking to maintain their momentum and avoid any potential setbacks due to injuries. 

 

Betting Trends

The Phoenix Suns have been on a four-game winning streak and are looking to extend their streak with a victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have won five out of their last ten games and are averaging 114.9 points per game. The Suns, on the other hand, are averaging 113.9 points per game. When it comes to point spreads, both the Suns and the Thunder have been solid picks for bettors. The Suns have covered the spread in 54.2% of their games, while the Thunder have covered the spread in 50% of their games. As for the over/under, the total has gone over in 43.2% of Suns games and 52.6% of Thunder games. This could be a high-scoring game, as both teams are averaging more than 110 points per game. When analyzing the head-to-head matchup trends, the Thunder have won two out of the three previous meetings against the Suns this season. However, the Suns have covered the spread in all three games and have only lost by four points or less in each game. Based on the betting trends, the Suns could be a solid pick to cover the spread and the total could potentially go over in this high-scoring matchup. However, bettors should also consider the Thunder's recent hot streak and their ability to win against the Suns earlier in the season.

 

Prediction: Suns vs. Thunder NBA Game Preview - April 2, 2023

This game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to secure a win. The Suns are on a four-game winning streak, while the Thunder have a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. However, with the Thunder hosting the game and having defeated the Suns in their previous encounter this season, they will be confident of securing a victory. With Suns looking to extend their winning streak and Thunder's recent hot streak, it's sure to be a close match. NBA picks experts predict the Suns to have a slight advantage, but with Thunder's strong offense and impressive defense, anything can happen on the court. Watch out for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey leading Thunder's offense, while Chris Paul and Devin Booker counter for Suns. According to betting trends, the Thunder could be a solid pick to cover the spread.

 

Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder (+5)

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