In the Thursday NBA picks, it’s a rematch of the best teams in the league.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who lead the Eastern Conference with the NBA’s best record, are on the road facing the Western Conference-leading Oklahome City Thunder. They met eight days ago in Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 129-122 winners.
Cleveland was the 1.5-point chalk in that one and oddsmakers are sticking with the home team. They are setting the Thunder as 3-point home favorites in the NBA picks.
Let’s check the latest betting line. As always, odds are subject to change.
 | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +3 (-115) | +115 | O 223 (-110) |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -3 (-105) | -135 | U 223 (-110) |
The Cavaliers and Thunder are both 13-1 straight up over their past 14 games. Oklahoma City’s only loss in that span was to Cleveland.
Among five NBA games on tap on the Thursday schedule, this is the one we are selecting to focus on in our NBA picks and best bets.
Prior to making any bets on your NBA picks, you definitely should be checking out the latest NBA Vegas odds. You can also assess the most recent developments in NBA prop bets. You should also be taking advantage of these Vegas betting site bonuses to make the most of your NBA betting.
Cleveland’s home-court win over the Thunder brought to an end a three-game SU and against the spread losing streak for the Cavaliers against Oklahoma City. At Oklahoma City, the Thunder and Cavaliers are 2-2 SU in the last four meetings. Oklahoma City holds a 2-1-1ATS edge in those four games. In all games, Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in the last six meetings with the Thunder.
Overall, the Cavaliers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games. Cleveland is also 6-0 ATS in the club’s past six road contests. They are also 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings with Western Conference squads.
The Thunder are 8-1 ATS over their last nine games and 6-0 ATS through their past six home games. Oklahoma City is 10-1 SU in the last 11 games against Eastern Conference teams. However, the Thunder is just 3-6 ATS in the last nine times facing Central Division opposition.
In the last two Cleveland vs Oklahoma City meetings, the over has been the winning play on the total. Prior to that, though, the under hit in four straight games between the two teams. The over is 10-3 in Cleveland’s past 13 games. As well, the over is six-for-six in the last six games played by the Cavaliers against Northwest Division clubs.
Four of Oklahoma City’s last five games have gone over. However, the over is 0-2-1 in the last three home games played by the Thunder.
Cleveland is 2-1 SU as a betting underdog this season. The Cavaliers are 13-4 ATS as an away team. Oklahoma City is 14-6 ATS on home court in 2024-25. The Thunder are 32-6 SU as a favorite in the betting line.
Cleveland leads the NBA in offensive rating at 121.3. The Cavaliers’ starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell (23.1 ppg) and Darius Garland (21.0 ppg) averages a combined 44.1 points per game.
Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage at 70.4%. His teammate Evan Mobley rates 10th overall in this category at 57.7%.
Cleveland has an NBA-best 14-3 road record this season. The Cavaliers have won six consecutive road games. Each victory has come by double digits. The average margin of victory is 15.8 points per game.
The Cavaliers are 11-0 SU against Western Conference opponents this season. A victory in Oklahoma City would make Cleveland the sixth NBA team since 1970-71 to start a season 12-0 SU against the opposite conference.
Already without seven-footer Chet Holmgren (hip injury), the Thunder will also be missing 7-foot-1 Isaiah Hartenstein for Thursday’s game. Hartenstein suffered a left calf strain in Tuesday’s win over Philadelphia. That’s going to put him on the shelf for a week.
The Thunder are returning home from a 3-1 road trip in which the only loss was that setback at Cleveland. Oklahoma City has three players who rank in the top six in the NBA in steals per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is third (2.03 spg), Jalen Williams is fifth (1.77 spg) and Cason Wallace is sixth (1.71 spg).
Oklahoma City owns the NBA’s top defensive rating at 102.9. The Thunder are 9-0 SU at home since a November 17 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Gilgeous-Alexander is second in NBA scoring. He’s averaging 31.4 points per game.
No less a source than NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is billing this Cleveland vs Oklahoma City rematch as an NBA Finals preview. The Cavaliers are 34-5 SU, while the Thunder are 33-6. The two teams are also 1-2 in NBA championship odds futures.
The Thunder have both won and covered in each of their past six home games. Just as Cleveland ended Oklahoma City’s 15-game win streak eight days ago, take the Thunder in the Thursday NBA picks to halt the Cavaliers’ perfect mark this season against the Western Conference.
