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Oklahoma City Thunder take on the visiting Atlanta Hawks, predictions

Posted by Justin W. Cooper on
Justin Cooper
November 30, 2018

Former Oklahoma University star Trae Young and his Atlanta Hawks visit the Chesapeake Energy Arena Friday night to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup that pits Thunder sixth man Dennis Schroder against his former running mates for the first time since being traded to OKC over the summer.  The Thunder are currently 8 and 3 on the season at home and will likely add to the win column against the 5-17 Hawks. 

The Thunder currently boast the number 1 defensive efficiency rating in the league while the Hawks find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum coming in dead last in offensive efficiency.  To make matters worse for the Hawks, Jeremy Lin has been listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup. Although Atlanta is averaging 107.4 points per game this season, look for tonight to be a low scoring affair for the visiting team as the Thunder turn it up on the defensive end and continue to dominate lesser opponents.  The Thunder currently rank 20th in the league in offensive efficiency but look to improve on that mark against a Hawk’s squad that ranks 22nd on defense and is giving up 117.8 points per game.

The Thunder, shooting poorly from three this season, will look to get the ball in the paint early and often where they are averaging 52 points per contest (8th in the NBA).  Atlanta has protected the rim well so far this season, rejecting 6.1 shots per contest (good enough for 5th in the league), however, against his former team, expect Dennis Schroder to execute the pick and roll as masterfully as we’ve seen all season, drawing Dewayne Dedmon and Alex Len out of position and letting his bigs feast on lobs at the rim all evening long .  The Thunder will continue their dominance on the offensive glass (1st in the NBA) and will ultimately put this one away in short order.

On Instagram, Dennis Schroder promised an autographed jersey to the first person to accurately predict the final score of tonight’s game against his former team.  Oddsmakers favor the Thunder by 13.  Sounds of Thunder submitted our prediction, a Thunder win, 113-96. 

 

Tip off is at 7:00PM CST and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Oklahoma and Fox Sports Southeast.