https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48844768/okc-not-playoff-favorites-first-33-games

It’s been two years and 33 games since the Oklahoma City Thunder have been underdogs in the playoffs, a streak that puts them in line with the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty of the 1990s.

The Thunder’s streak, however, is in jeopardy Friday against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
The Spurs entered Friday as a 1.5-point favorite over Oklahoma City.

If the line holds, the Thunder will be playoff underdogs for the first time since Game 6 of the 2024 Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Thunder’s 33-game streak is the third-longest since 1990, according to ESPN Research.

The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors own the longest-such streak, having been favored in 36 consecutive playoff games. The Michael Jordan-led Bulls were favored in 34 straight playoff games from 1995-97.

The Thunder were only underdogs in four games this regular season.
The San Antonio-Oklahoma City series is tied 1-1. The Thunder are -150 favorites to win the series at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the Spurs listed at +138.

Uncle_Freddy | SAS

22 | an hour ago

Kinda wild that the Spurs were 6.5 dogs at OKC and only 1.5 point favorites at home. Feels like the teams are much closer than those spreads indicate

jon__koa |

14 | an hour ago

Playoff point spreads are weird

Uncle_Freddy | SAS

14 | an hour ago

Tbh the Spurs have more firepower (Fox, Harper) under injury uncertainty than the Thunder (JDub) do, makes sense under that lens

jon__koa |

1 | 23 minutes ago

True. The one I’m more confused on is Cleveland being favored when that series has gone how it has

OpeDefinitely | Pacers

1 | 16 minutes ago

Cleveland has lost a single home game in these playoffs. They’ve just been much worse on the road.

Still, Cleveland has had a chance in both away games. First game was a huge oof. They should won. They had a chance in G2 as well, but they blew it. Coaching has been really rough so far IMO.

Scared_Willow_5363 | Knicks

1 | 18 minutes ago

I remember this being a question for game 3 during the knicks/phillies series. I’m not much of a betting guy, but my understanding is that home teams that are down 2-0 overwhelmingly win game 3, so if the teams are relatively evenly matched, home team is usually favored in that scenario.

jon__koa |

1 | 12 minutes ago

Especially here because if Cleveland loses either of these games at Rocket, it’s over. I don’t think they’re winning a game 5 close out at MSG where New York can make the finals for the first time since 1999

Dhr7468 | Thunder

4 | an hour ago

Vegas has been absurdly high on the thunder for two seasons now. I was losing my mind that we were odds on favorites to win the title last year while in a 2-2 dogfight with Denver in round 2. Or we lose game one in the finals and they go “lol 9 point favorite in game 2.” But then we went ahead and won so I guess I’m dumb.

Ilikesporks_ | Lakers

15 | an hour ago

it entirely depends on if harper and fox is healthy. it they’re not, them thunder are easily favored

Skank_hunt42 | Thunder

4 | 37 minutes ago

I think Fox more than Harper. Castle is young and he will get there, but he can’t be the primary ball handler again. A couple of those turnovers in G2 really killed the runs the Spurs were on.

[deleted]

2 | an hour ago

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XiaoRCT | Thunder

5 | an hour ago

ngl this series makes me sick to my stomach with how much it screams game 7

then again the way both teams play I wouldn’t be shocked if it turned out 4-1 to either anyway, which also makes me sick to my stomach

maybe I’m just actually sick

Flack17 | Thunder

1 | an hour ago

we’re all sickos

GGTae | Spurs

1 | 16 minutes ago

it makes me sick too, but it’s a good thrilling blood boiling mind breaking one, give me a heart attack in 7 🙏

wcooper97 | OKC

1 | an hour ago

So exactly how our Nuggets and Pacers series went

🤢

Dhr7468 | Thunder

4 | an hour ago

Smh +1.5 on the road? We believe thunder. Time to shock the world. /s

CoolAsTheUnthawed | OKC

1 | 12 minutes ago

Okc against the world wow #noonebelievesinus #thunderdogs #webelievethunder

VeniceRapture | Spurs

0 | an hour ago

Surprising. I know JDub is out, but Fox and Harper are questionable and somehow the Spurs have better odds than when Harper was actually playing.

Bobskidat | Thunder

16 | an hour ago

Home court advantage I’d assume

anonymoususer6407 | Rockets

4 | an hour ago

Agreed. I’m assuming this has to mean that Fox is back in for tonight.

If both Fox & Harper were out, absolutely no way that Spurs would be favorites for tonight.

imbutawaveto | OKC

4 | an hour ago

I’d expect role players will step up a ton tonight too. Keldon especially, he plays like a monster at home, and he was pretty lackluster in G2.

Adorable-News-9364 | Spurs

4 | 34 minutes ago

Champagnie also sucked in game 2 and shoots significantly better at home.

Edit: this is false. My bad. It is true about KJ though.

imbutawaveto | OKC

1 | 25 minutes ago

yeahhhhhh, i’d bet it’ll either be super competitive and a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ game decided by a few points, or the spurs will slap okc up with their role players lighting it up from 3.

DDBull | Spurs

1 | 26 minutes ago

KJ has been bad whole post season. Unfortunately, he looks more and more like regular season only guy

okiewxchaser | Thunder

3 | an hour ago

I think the assumption is that Fox is playing until otherwise stated. I bet the line moves in a hurry if he gets downgraded to questionable or out

DDBull | Spurs

1 | 29 minutes ago

Both Fox and Harper are already listed as questionable

Yosephette

1 | 22 minutes ago

Fox has remained questionable GTDs the past 5 games

roastedhambone | Thunder

3 | an hour ago

Dub isn’t playing but he is also listed as questionable

budubum | Thunder

1 | 20 minutes ago

We’re historically pretty bad in game 3s

Genericthrowaw4y | Thunder

1 | 22 minutes ago

OKC dynasty wins in 5

TomDundon4Life

-8 | an hour ago

If they’d just officiate the games properly they’d get swept by the Spurs.

[Purdum] Thunderdogs: OKC not playoff favorites for first time in 33 games