Spurs vs Thunder Parlay Picks: Expert NBA Same Game Parlay at +529 odds

Filip Tomic

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Long-time NBA fan, following the game closely for 21 years now. Joined the Pickswise writing staff for the 2020-21 season and have given out winning picks since. Hopefully we can make some money together! Oh, and I firmly believe Lebron James is not one of the two best basketball players of all time. Yeah, I said it. For Filip Tomic media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.

OKC Thunder ML (-260)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Score 30+ Points (+124)

Isaiah Hartenstein to Record 6+ Rebounds (+176)

Same Game Parlay odds: +529

OKC Thunder ML (-260)

Game 2 is a massive character test for the defending champions who find themselves trailing 1-0 in the West Finals against San Antonio. Game 1 showed us that the Spurs have a distinct advantage at the center position, with Victor Wembanyama wreaking havoc down low for majority of that game. I’m sure the Thunder coaching staff is smart enough to realize that they need to change things up, especially in their approach when it comes to guarding Wemby. I was surprised Isaiah Hartenstein got only 12 minutes of play in the opener, a lot of people pointed out the advantages that the Spurs have close to the basket. The German center should have fresher legs than Wemby here after averaging just 24.1 mins per game in 9 postseason games so far, it might be difficult for the Frenchman to recover after playing 49 mins in Game 1.

Elsewhere, Jalen Williams scoring 26 points in his return from injury was also an encouraging factor, as this series progresses he should only get better as he gets his legs under him. Only 6 teams in NBA history have come back to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two home games, so all the pressure is on the Thunder here. Let’s see how they respond, and I’m backing them to get the win and even the series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Score 30+ Points (+124)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a team high 51 minutes in Game 1 vs the Spurs, but he didn’t have the best of games coming off that MVP trophy presentation. His +/- was a team worst -15 in those 51 mins played, he shot the ball just 7-for-23 from the field which is very uncharacteristic for a player of his stature. I’m putting all the pressure on him in Game 2, as great as it was to have Alex Caruso go off for 31 points and 8 threes made in the opener, they cannot rely on anyone else but their MVP to bring them home in Game 2.

It’s fair to question if the Spurs figured him out after that performance on Monday, but I do not believe that to be the case. SGA averaged 29.5 ppg in 4 regular season meetings, shooting over 50% from the field. Last season when the Thunder went down 2-1 in the NBA Finals he responded with 35 points to level the series, going down 2-0 is not an option for the home team here. Expect the MVP to show up in a big way.

Isaiah Hartenstein to Record 6+ Rebounds (+176)

Hartenstein didn’t do much in Game 1 for the Thunder, which is understandable considering he logged just 12 minutes despite the game going into double OT. I’m banking on the Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault making the adjustments in Game 2 and giving the Thunder center more playing time. Chet Holmgren just hasn’t showed he can sustain a high level of play down low battling with Victor Wembanyama. Reinforcements are on the way in the form of Hartenstein – he actually averaged 11 rebounds per game in 3 regular season meetings vs San Antonio, playing an average of 23 mins per game.

So far in the playoffs, Hartenstein’s rebounding numbers were in line with what he averaged during the regular season. Against the Suns he was at 8.3 per game, while against the Lakers he upped that to 9.3 per game vs Deandre Ayton. In both of those series he was logging upwards of 23+ mins per game on average, if that happens tonight there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll get to 6 rebounds here. The odds on this bet are far too good for us to overlook.