NBA Odds:Look For More Scoring in Game 2 Of Thunder-Mavericks

Those checking out Preakness odds can appreciate the matchup in the NBA’s Western Conference finals between Oklahoma City and Dallas, as there are thoroughbreds all over the place in this series, and they raced out of the gate in Game 1. If you’re a fan of high-scoring games, you should get another one in Game 2 in Thursday.

Thunder vs. Mavericks Betting – Thursday, 9:00 PM ET

Kevin Durant had a huge night with 40 points, eight boards and five assists, but it wasn’t enough for the NBA odds as the Thunder fell 121-112 in Dallas in Game 1. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, but he had just three assists with four turnovers, and even those watching NHL highlights will tell you that isn’t a good enough ratio for a point guard, especially at this point in the playoffs. The Thunder managed to get to the line 43 times, making 37 of their free-throw attempts, but they couldn’t slow down the Dallas offense and in particular, their bench was outscored 53-22.

Jason Terry and J.J. Barea combined for 45 of those bench points, and the Mavericks will need more of those as the series goes on, but the story of Game 1 was Dirk Nowitzki, who went insane on the Thunder with 48 points, going 12-of-15 from the floor (without attempting a single three-pointer), and he was a perfect 24-of-24 from the foul line, which is an NBA playoff record. Nowitzki and the Mavericks picked up right from their four-game sweep of the two-time champion Lakers, shooting 53.4% from the floor, and if they keep that up, it’s tough to imagine anyone beating them in the last two rounds of the postseason.

Your sports bookie software will find the Mavericks as a 5-point favorite at home in Game 2, and NBA betting players have probably fallen in love with Dallas, who is a staggering 11-0 ATS so far in the playoffs, and they have yet to lose at home. The Thunder need to shore up on defense to slow down the Mavericks, and they shouldn’t feel too bad about giving up all of those points to Nowitzki; that’s going to happen because he’s just playing too well right now. Where the Thunder really have to pick it up is with the second unit, and they can’t allow Terry and Barea to drop another 45 points on them. Also, in what has been a running theme, Westbrook has to do a better job of distributing and taking care of the ball. He shot 3-of-15 from the floor, and that’s discouraging, but the assist-to-turnover is a bigger issue. Look for him to have a better game, and the bench will step up too, so lay a sports bet on Oklahoma City.

Preakness Stakes Odds: Five Horses You Should Bet On at Pimlico

Preakness Stakes odds will be the hot play this week as the second jewel in horse racing‘s Triple Crown will be up for grabs on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom was a longshot bet in the Kentucky Derby, but that didn’t stop him from taking the “Run For The Roses”. Now, how will he fare in the “Run For The Black-Eyed Susans” as a favorite? Here is Animal Kingdom and four more horses to watch on Saturday.

Animal Kingdom (+270): His closing kick at Churchill Downs wasn’t all that surprising, but still, no one expected this horse to come as it did. Horse betting players will give Animal Kingdom a long look as four horses in the last nine years have won the first jewels in the Triple Crown, and he’ll have a very good chance to become the fifth.

Mucho Macho Man (+425): This horse has finished out of the top three in only one of his nine races, and he’s probably the most balanced horse in the entire field. The Kentucky Derby was his first Grade-1 race, and he should earn some strong consideration at Pimlico as well.

Nehro (+500): Nehro finished one spot ahead of Mucho Macho Man at Churchill Downs as the two battled with Shackleford heading into the final turn, and he has now finished second in his last three races, including a pair of Grade-1 races. Like the above horse, Nehro is very balanced, but he may be a little bit better when it comes to closing.

Shackleford (+1000): If pressed for a pick, Shackleford would be the way to go after his performance at Churchill Downs, in which he finished fourth, but he led a large portion of the Kentucky Derby. Shackleford’s problem has been closing races as Dialed In (who is rated at +400 after an eighth-place run in the Derby) caught him in the Florida Derby, but he may not be exposed as badly at Pimlico, which is shorter and faster than Churchill Downs. He should be the play in your sports bookie software.

King Congie (+2000): King Congie has a very strong stable that has motivation; jockey Robby Albarado was taken off Animal Kingdom in favor of John Velazquez after breaking his nose, even though Albarado says he could have raced. He has also won the Preakness before, claiming the black-eyed Susans with Curlin’ in 2007, and his trainer Tom Albertrani won in 2006 with Bernardini. King Congie finished third in the Grade-1 Blue Grass Stakes, and even though he hasn’t raced on dirt in four races, it shouldn’t bother him too much. King Congie is definitely the darkhorse to watch in your online sports book.

Diamondbacks 4-1 Win against Dodgers

The Dodgers dropped a 4-1 decision at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as Diamondbacks legged out a betting win behind winning pitcher Ian Kennedy.

The Diamondbacks were a -115 favorite in the win in the baseball lines . The combined score dipped UNDER the total, which closed at 7.5.

Ian Kennedy earned the victory for the Diamondbacks, throwing 6 innings of work, striking out 8, walking 1, and allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run. That effort was supported by 2 RBIs from Xavier Nady in the win.

Los Angeles' starting pitcher Ted Lilly worked 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5 in the loss. They got 3 hits from Aaron Miles in a losing cause.

The battle of the bats favored Arizona as they had 8 hits, while Los Angeles only had 6.

The game was closed out by J.J. Putz who got the final outs in the victory. He allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and fanned 1 batter to earn the save.

Next game, Arizona takes its act home to face San Diego looking for another win. For Los Angeles, they head home to face Milwaukee.