Thunder vs. Lakers odds: NBA picks from proven computer model - CBSSports.com

It's a Sunday showdown in Oklahoma City as the Thunder host the Los Angeles Lakers at 2 p.m. ET in a nationally televised contest on ABC. The Thunder opened as 10-point favorites and now are laying 9.5. The Over-Under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, has inched up from an opening of 218.5 to 219.5.

Before picking either side of the spread, you need to read what the SportsLine Projection Model has come up with. This model has put together a 65-52 run on its top-rated point-spread picks this season.

Now, the model has examined every matchup, every player and every trend for Lakers-Thunder and locked in strong against-the-spread and Over-Under picks.

We can tell you that the computer has the Under 219.5 winning 61 percent of simulations. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time.

The model knows the Thunder are 5-1 against the spread in their last six contests against the Lakers and the Under is 4-0 in L.A.'s previous four Sunday games.

The Lakers' best chance to cover the spread -- and win outright -- is to make Russell Westbrook a shooter, not a passer. The All-Star guard is a pedestrian 41 percent from the field in his last five games and has turned the ball over 27 times in that span.

But the Thunder can cover the spread by doing what they do best -- get out on the fastbreak and get their bigs flying to the hoop for easy layups and putbacks. Oklahoma City is one of the best in the business crashing the boards, hauling in about 45 a game. And it'll be facing a Lakers team that could be without Brandon Ingram (groin).

So what side of the Lakers-Thunder do you need to be all over? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers-Thunder spread is hitting almost 60 percent of the time, all from the model that has absolutely crushed the NBA.

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