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André Snellings
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Eric Moody
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Eric Moody
ESPN Writer
- Eric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to bounce back after their 42-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, while the Timberwolves look to even the series at two apiece.
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field as the Thunder offense struggles. The Timberwolves, after losing both games in Oklahoma City, responded with six players scoring in double-figures.
Here are some of the bets that stand out for Monday night’s game.
Odds are as of publication time. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET
Julius Randle over 18.5 points (-120). He bounced back nicely in the Timberwolves’ blowout win over the Thunder in Game 3, scoring 24 points after a disappointing Game 2. Randle has solidified himself as Minnesota’s No. 2 scoring option behind Anthony Edwards. He has cleared this line in eight of his past 10 games, averaging 16.7 field goal attempts and 36.0 minutes per game during that stretch. With Edwards drawing heavy defensive attention, Randle benefits from more scoring opportunities. He has hit this mark in 82% of the 17 games he has played 36 or more minutes this season. -Moody
Naz Reid over 1.5 total 3-pointers (-145). Reid was ice cold from 3-point range to start the series, going 0-for-12 from behind the arc in the two games on the road. But in Game 3, back in Minnesota, Reid found his shot and knocked down two of his three 3-point attempts. Reid is a career 38.5% shooter from downtown, and he’s clearly getting the looks, so I look for him to continue to revert to the mean and hit his open shots in Game 4. -Snellings
Alex Caruso over 7.5 points (Even). Caruso, like the rest of the Thunder, seemed to forget to show up for the team’s 42-point drubbing in Game 3, but in the six games leading up to that one, Caruso averaged 10.3 PPG while scoring over 7.5 points in all of them. He is a consistent 3-and-D producer for the Thunder, and as a veteran with championship experience it’s Caruso who I would expect to step up and star in his role for the Thunder in a key Game 4 tilt. -Snellings
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Thunder -3.5 (-105) | Timberwolves 3.5 (-115)
Money line: Thunder -145 | Timberwolves +125
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 4.1, straight up 63%, 216.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OFS – Knee)
Timberwolves: None reported
