Thunder Look to Lock Up Playoff Spot Against Heat

• In regular season game 81, the Thunder try to lock down a playoff berth
• Should Miami try to move down from sixth, to battle the injury-riddled Celtics?
• Westbrook chasing down another triple-double season

Two teams that nobody wants to face in the playoffs go head-to-head Monday (April 9th) with plenty still on the line in Miami, as the Heat (43-37, 25-14 Home) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-34, 20-20 Away).

OKC’s playoff math is simple: win and you’re in. Sure, lose and it would still take a massive upset loss in their regular season finale against the Grizzlies to slide right out of the postseason. All things being equal, they’d likely prefer a win now. Judging by their performance Saturday night in Houston, they should be locked in for this one.

Also, Russell Westbrook is averaging 9.9 rebounds a game heading into the final games of the year. A couple of big rebounding games could push him back into another triple-double season. Interestingly enough, he’s nowhere in the vicinity of MVP talk.

Miami could have a path to the Conference Final without having to see LeBron James. As a bettor, this makes things tricky.

Meanwhile, Miami is in the playoffs, but, there is an interesting path developing. They currently sit in sixth, and have a potential date with the upstart 76ers if the standing stayed the same.

But, if they are somehow able to drop down just a spot to the 7-seed, they’d get a shot at the physically decimated Celtics. Get past them, and they’d play the winner of Philly-Milwaukee/Washington.

Simply put, Miami could have a path to the Conference Final without having to see LeBron James. As a bettor, this makes things tricky.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Miami Heat Team Stats

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

Head-to-Head Results

These two are a classic contrast in styles, and both were on display in their only matchup of the year. The ‘system’ Heat are seemingly in almost every game, anchored by a strong defense (4th in points allowed and 6th in field goal percentage) but a woefully lacking offense, way down at 24th in points scored. This was also after bringing back Dwyane Wade, a goodwill move with the desperate hope of squeezing a final run in the closer role for the decorated all-star.

Meanwhile, the ‘stars’ of the Thunder didn’t play that well of a game, but one of them, Russell Westbrook, caught fire to carry them in the crunch. Russ potted 17 in the final frame to put the close game on ice for OKC. Miami simply doesn’t have that star power to carry them home every contest.

 Notable Injuries and Absences

Straight Up Advice: Thunder (111-103)

The Thunder are coming off a game where Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Westbrook combined for 70 points, en route to snapping Houston’s 20-game home winning streak. It’s an effective formula when they’re clicking, not just for them, but for the rest of the team, as the hierarchy naturally funnels the Jerian Grants, Patrick Pattersons and Corey Brewers into the roles that they should be playing.

OKC also enjoyed a big rebounding advantage in their only meeting, topping Miami 51-41. Expect Steven Adams to lead the brigade again, against Hassan Whiteside or anyone they choose to replace him with.

The Thunder to eventually take control of this one, while the Heat toe the line of respectably losing, eyeing the bigger prize of a date with the Celtics, sans Kyrie and Hayward.

 Team Trends

Additional SU Picks (April 9th)

There are a total of nine games on the NBA slate on Monday night. We’ve got SU picks for the other games being played.