
Four big takeaways from the Dexter Lawrence trade: Barnwell sizes up the Bengals' shocking move
Bengals make a surprising move, trading for Dexter Lawrence with the 10th pick.
The Oklahoma City Thunder face the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, with OKC favored by 13.5 points. The Suns, coming off a play-in win, must perform exceptionally against the Thunder's strong defense led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The NBA’s top overall seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder open the defense of their title Sunday at Paycom Center against a battle-tested but potentially fatigued Phoenix Suns squad. Less than 48 hours ago, the Suns eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament while OKC sat at home. Sure, the Suns arrive with momentum and a "nothing to lose" attitude, but the schedule and the Thunder roster see OKC favored by 13.5 at DraftKings. Oklahoma City started their march to the title last season with a first round sweep.
The Suns, led by rookie head coach Jordan Ott, were not expected to be a factor in the Western Conference this season after trading Kevin Durant last summer. However, they face a monumental task at both ends of the court. OKC’s defense finished the regular season with the best defensive rating in the league. Their offense is quarterbacked by league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Phoenix will need an MVP-level performance from Devin Booker and major contributions from the supporting cast.
Key to the matchup is the battle between reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Phoenix’s perimeter defenders, specifically Dillon Brooks, who will more than likely be tasked with slowing down SGA. If somehow the Suns succeed in containing the MVP, they then must slow down the supporting cast led by Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. The Suns do not have the depth the Thunder possess.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are favored by 13.5 points against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1.
Key players include MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Thunder and Devin Booker for the Suns.
The Suns recently eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament, while the Thunder had a strong regular season with the best defensive rating.
The Suns lack the depth of the Thunder, which could be a significant factor in the playoff matchup.

Bengals make a surprising move, trading for Dexter Lawrence with the 10th pick.

WrestleMania 42 Highlights: Cody Rhodes retains title, new champions crowned, and surprise returns!

Lakers take down Rockets 107-98 in playoff opener with Kennard's 27 points.
Diamondbacks secure a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays with strong performances.
Mexico Women’s National Team Dominates Puerto Rico 6-0 to Qualify for Concacaf Championship!
Rain Delay Disrupts Paul Skenes' Performance, Pirates Lose to Rays
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game sits right where it opened with OKC favored by 13.5 and the Game Total set at 215.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: