The first-place Oklahoma City Thunder looks to take care of business against the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.
The pregame narrative: Oklahoma City is posting elite defensive numbers and I am backing their alt spread in this +340 SGP. Therefore, I believe Maxey is worth fading as a scorer while Isaiah Hartenstein should hit the over on his assists prop.
Check out my Thunder vs. 76ers same-game parlay predictions for Jan. 14.
Thunder vs. 76ers predictions
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Parlay: Thunder -9.5 + Maxey under 3.5 threes + Hartenstein over 3.5 assists (+340)
Thunder -9.5 (-195): It’s hard to imagine the Sixers finding any offensive success against an elite defence, especially with Joel Embiid out.
Oklahoma City is posting a league-best 102.9 defensive rating while carrying four of the top 10 qualified players in defensive rating.
Offensively, the Thunder are not world-beaters by any means. However, with the Sixers missing Embiid and Andre Drummond for this game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein can wreak havoc in the paint.
Atop the Western Conference standings, the Thunder are winning most of their games in blowout fashion. Seven of their last eight wins came by double-digits, including against the New York Knicks (117-107) and Boston Celtics (105-92).
Meanwhile, the Sixers are a woeful 4-13 ATS at home this season. Recent losses came against the Phoenix Suns (by 10 points) and an inferior New Orleans Pelicans team (by eight points).
SGP legs
Maxey under 3.5 threes (-141): Maxey is one the few shining lights in the Sixers lineup, but faces a tough matchup against a scrappy Thunder defence.
- Best three-point defence (32%)
- Allowing 12.4 3PTM per game (2nd)
- Allowing 20.8 PPG to point guards (2nd)
The all-star point guard, being asked to attempt more three-point shots, is hitting at a career-worst 33.6 clip through 31 games.
He’s failed to exceed this mark in eight of his last 10 games, despite averaging 9.6 attempts during that stretch.
I expect an undersized Maxey to be held in check, with Paul George taking on a bigger shooting role.
Hartenstein over 3.5 assists (-115): If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Head coach Mark Daigneault is giving Hartenstein more reign to create plays, and it’s worked wonders thus far.
The seven-footer has cleared this line in seven of his last 10 games, averaging 4.6 assists during that stretch.
Philly is the seventh-best team in preventing assists to centres. However, this doesn’t factor in the key absences in their paint protection.
The potential for a blowout does make it a tad worrisome. But there’s no reason this leg can’t cash before that becomes a factor.
Picks made at 2:33 p.m. on 01/14/25.
