OKC Thunder vs Washington Wizards Prediction and Betting Tips | Jan. 12, 2025

The OKC Thunder will travel to the nation's capital this weekend to take on the Washington Wizards for the second time this season. Sunday's matchup pits the Western Conference-leading Thunder against the last-place Wizards.

The Thunder (31-6) have lost just one of their last 12 games and will be led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is one of the early favorites for the MVP crown.

The Wizards (6-30) have struggled to find wins this season. Head coach Brian Keefe knows his team will have to be at their best, and will hope a spirited home crowd can drive them to pull off one of the big upsets of the season.

OKC Thunder vs Washington Wizards preview, prediction and betting tips

The Washington Wizards will play the OKC Thunder at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC on Sunday, Jan. 11, with the game set to tip off at 6:00 p.m. EST (3:00 PST).

The game will be available to watch locally on MNMT and FDSOK. Fans can also stream the game on fuboTV.

Moneyline: Thunder (-1800), Wizards (+900)

Spread: Thunder -16.5 (-105), Wizards +16.5 (-115)

Total (Over/Under): Over 229.5 (-110) Under 229.5 (-110)

Note: All odds are subject to change closer to tip-off. The listed odds are based on information available at the time of writing.

OKC Thunder vs Washington Wizards preview

Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole drives down the court beside OKC Thunder guard Luguentz Dort at Paycom Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

The OKC Thunder come into Sunday's matchup as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Head coach Mark Daigneault has his team firing on all cylinders as they approach the midway point of the season.

Oklahoma City sits atop the Western Conference with a 31-6 record and holds a commanding six-game lead over the second-place Houston Rockets. Since Nov. 3, the Thunder have lost just twice over 18 games. They have a 9-1 record in their last 10 games and a 14-4 record in away games.

A resilient defense has been the key behind the Thunder's early season success. Oklahoma City is giving up just 103.6 points per game, the fewest in the West. Center Isaiah Hartenstein and forward Jalen Williams have been exceptional on the defensive end.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the standout player for the OKC Thunder. The two-time All-Star is coming off a remarkable season where he finished second in the MVP voting and has continued his outstanding form this season. Gilgeous-Alexander leads the roster in points (31.5), assists (5.9), steals (2.0) and blocks (1.2).

The Washington Wizards are amid a dismal run that has seen them lose seven of their last eight games. Keefe's team is coming off a lopsided 138-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls and will look to bounce back at home against the Thunder.

The Wizards are last in the Eastern Conference with just six wins from their first 36 games. They currently have the worst record in the NBA. They have struggled on the road and have a 1-15 away record.

Defense has been a problem area for the Wizards, with the team conceding 122.3 ppg. That is the highest figure in the NBA and is an area that the coaching staff will have to address in the coming weeks.

Guard Jordan Poole will be the player to keep an eye on for the Wizards. The sharpshooting guard is averaging a team-high 21.8 ppg. He leads the Wizards in points, assists (4.9) and steals (1.6).

The Washington Wizards and OKC Thunder have already met once this season with Oklahoma City winning 123-105 on Dec. 23.

OKC Thunder vs Washington Wizards betting tips

OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander speaks to a TV reporter after his team defeated the Dallas Mavericks at Paycom Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the central figure in Daigneault's offense and he should have plenty of touches on the ball against one of the weakest defenses in the league.

The 32.5 points total seems high for the Canadian star, but the assists total is set at just 5.5. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 5.9 assists per game, and the talented point guard should be able to go over that total.

The Washington Wizards will look to Jordan Poole to step up and lead the offense. The points total is set at 18.5 for Poole, who is averaging 21.8 ppg. Expect the Wizards guard to go over that total.

OKC Thunder vs Washington Wizards prediction

It is hard to see how the Wizards will be able to keep up with the Thunder. Washington has shown little on the defensive front, and Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to have a big night. Meanwhile, the Thunder boasts one of the best defenses in the league, and the Wizards will find it difficult to get points on the board.

The Wizards are coming off a 33-point loss to the Bulls and this should be another one-sided contest. The Thunder should be able to win easily and surpass the -16.5-point spread.