Sportsline

Karl-Anthony Towns has cleared this player prop line in seven straight games. …

Karl-Anthony Towns has embraced his role as facilitator. ...

Robbie Ray has remained under this player prop line in seven of nine starts this season. …

I believe Spurs will win this match 2-1. ...

A win for Spurs saves them from relegation. ...

I'm putting a small sprinkle on the upset. ...

Bournemouth are on a 17 match unbeaten streak. ...

It's a quick turnaround for the Cavaliers, who outlasted Detroit. ...

During the five regular season matchups against the Thunder, Stephon Castle scored 19 or more points in four games. Castle may be a first time postseason player, but he has elevated his play. Through the first two rounds he is averaging 20 points in the playoffs, and this is while averaging just 32 minutes. The Thunder are a great defensive team, but look for Castle to be one of the Spurs not impacted. Take his over.

Dylan Harper continues to play a big and important role for the Spurs. He cleared this prop total in all six games of the Timberwolves series. I would play this up to -135.

Spurs backup center Luke Kornet scored four-plus points in three of the six first-round games vs. the Timberwolves. Against OKC this regular season, he was a total afterthought to the Thunder defense. After a modest 1-for-3 effort in the opening matchup, Kornet scored 8, 6, 8 and 4 vs. OKC, the final two games shooting seven times. We'll bite on this low-hanging fruit.

Dylan Harper is one of the Spurs I have marked as the X factor for them to do well in this series. He's come out strong in the playoffs, averaging 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He also steals the ball 1.2 times a game. All his totals are up from the regular season, and yet we have a total based on his regular-season average, which is 3.4 rebounds per game. He's a different player in these playoffs and has a special duty coming off the bench. He’s gone over his rebound total in his last 9 games. Over 3.5 half rebounds is the play.

The OKC Thunder as the defending champions you could not ask for a better start in the first two rounds of the playoffs. They have yet to lose as they swept the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams were dealing with injuries, and now the Thunder will see a Spurs team that has the depth to match them. I would not be surprised for the Thunder to have a double digit lead at halftime, but this Spurs team has shown to be a second half team. Grab the number with the Spurs.

The series everyone wanted to see in the West is happening as the No. 1-seeded Thunder face the No. 2-seeded Spurs beginning tonight in Oklahoma City. The Spurs have the edge in the season series, winning four of five games. Still, in reality, it's only three of four, as in the last game on February 4th, the Thunder didn't have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, or Chet Holmgren playing. But nobody else took out the Thunder three or four this year. The reason for the Spurs success against the Thunder is Victor Wembanyama, who doesn't block every shot but alters the shot attempts by the Thunder. Then you've got to make your shots, and the Spurs have been doing that. Spurs.

Isaiah Hartenstein took a back seat to Chet Holmgren in the last playoff round. But while Holmgren has struggled against the Spurs, Hartenstein excelled in his three games vs. San Antonio. (Victor Wembanyama played in two of the three). Look for the Thunder to play both big men major minutes as they contend with Wemby inside. I would also play this Over 16.5.