Yesterday ended up being one of the season’s most frustrating and unlucky losses, as the Toronto Raptors missed a dozen free-throws and fell just one point short of the spread. Kyle Lowry’s last miss from the stripe was also the last play of the match and would have forced a push… but that’s the way it goes, sometimes. Today, The Big Dog has his sights on Game 3 of the Western Conference series between the Thunder and Spurs. After the chaotic finish to Game 2, the series moves to Oklahoma City locked at 1-1. Will the Spurs bounce back from just their second loss all season at AT&T Center or will the Thunder consolidate home court advantage and a valuable lead in the series?
San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
If you spend any time at all following the NBA, by now you know about the five non-calls that made up the truly crazy final sequence of Game 2, won 98-97 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. After losing Game 1 by 32 points, the Thunder would be over the moon to have split the first two games in San Antonio, with the next pair to be played at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder may not have had an NBA-record-tying year at home but going 32-9 is an accurate representation of how much better they performed in front of their fans. Both these teams have now lost one game at home in the postseason. Ironically, both came in a Game 2 and both by a single point. The Thunder responded as expected in Game 3, against a wounded Dallas but now the pressure is being applied by OKC, who have the Spurs in a pretty unfamiliar position. San Antonio tied the 1985-86 Boston Celtics by going 40-1 at home in the regular season. In the match that followed their only home loss, they defeated the Thunder 102-98 in overtime. Very little can be taken from that match, as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook did not play. The Southwest Division rivals split their season series 2-2 with each team defending their floor but this is the playoffs… and a San Antonio Spurs team that went 77 games into the season before losing consecutive games. There’s also the form of a man called LaMarcus Aldridge. The high-profile free agency recruit has been unstoppable in the last two games, scoring 79 points on an unbelievable 33 of 44 shooting. The Thunder seem to have no answer for the smooth-shooting forward and he will again be the focus of the offence. Seeing his points line so much lower than his recent performances is something The Big Dog simply can’t ignore and in a double with a Spurs win, this could be one of the best value selections of the entire season.
Selection
LaMarcus Aldridge 25+ Pts/San Antonio Spurs To Win (Player Performance Doubles) @ $4.20 (Sportsbet)
Tools
Results Spreadsheet
