NBA Playoff Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 1

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 28-16 against the spread as home favorites since the start of the regular season, which is important to consider when making your NBA playoff picks Sunday, as they open up a best-of-seven series against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Thunder are three-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 186.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 1 of this Western Conference semifinal series from a betting perspective while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way. 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies earned a 4-2 series win over the Los Angeles Clippers, picking up a 118-105 victory as six-point home favorites Friday.

NBA handicappers will find that the Grizzlies are 8-13 straight up and 11-9-1 against the spread as road underdogs since the start of the regular season.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder advanced past the Houston Rockets in six games in their Western Conference quarterfinal series, coming away with a 103-94 victory as one-point road favorites Friday.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Thunder are 8-4 straight up and 7-4-1 against the spread in the second round of the NBA playoffs, with the OVER going 8-4 in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Oklahoma City Thunder as one of their NBA playoff picks Sunday, as they've gone 7-2 against the spread in their last nine home games versus teams with a winning road record.

NBA Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder -3

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