Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview, Picks, & Best Bets (4/2/26)
The Los Angeles Lakers (50-26) travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (60-16) at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. Marcus Smart will miss his sixth straight game, while Alex Caruso is questionable to play.
Keep reading for Lakers vs. Thunder best bets, and click any odds below to place a bet. For more sportsbook promos, we highly recommend checking out the best sports betting sites. Also check out our daily NBA betting trends for data, odds and insights!
Contents
Lakers vs. Thunder Odds
Lakers vs. Thunder Best Bets & Picks
The best bet in this matchup is taking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to make a pair of three-point shots.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2+ Made Threes (+110 FanDuel)
Los Angeles does not possess elite perimeter defenders or hyper-athletic guards, so it will struggle mightily to stay in front of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As a result, look for the Lakers to sag off and pack the paint in an effort to deter Gilgeous-Alexander from attacking the basket.
The reigning league MVP is shooting 38.2% from deep this season and looks comfortable attempting pull-up triples. Expect him to weaponize his step-back three pointer to take advantage of weak perimeter defenders who will often be backpedaling so that they do not get beat on drives.
As a side note, he went 2-for-7 from deep in his only matchup against Los Angeles this season.
Lakers vs. Thunder Preview & Breakdown
Los Angeles has a 1.5-game lead for the third seed and owns tiebreakers against both Denver and Minnesota. As a result, Basketball Reference gives the Lakers an 86.5% chance to finish with the third seed. This result is crucial because Los Angeles would likely avoid Oklahoma City until the Conference Finals and play Houston in the first round, which is a far easier matchup for Luka Dončić and company than the Nuggets or Timberwolves.
Speaking of Dončić, his March surge is the main reason behind the Lakers’ playoff positioning. He averaged 37.5 points, 8 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 3 stocks per game on 49/39/79 shooting splits across 16 games. It’s one of the best individual performances during a single month in NBA history.
The Thunder are also in a seeding race, as the Spurs only have two more losses and own the tiebreaker. If Oklahoma City manages to win five of its six remaining regular season games, then it guarantees that San Antonio cannot get the one seed. It would be a boon for the reigning champs to get more breathing room by the Spurs dropping a game or two.
Meanwhile, the champs must be thrilled to see Jalen Williams back and thriving. His effectiveness in the playoffs when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes a breather is arguably the Thunder’s biggest X Factor.
Best NBA Online Sportsbook Promos
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win* *Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF Use Bonus Code: BETLINEUPS Bet $10 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose 30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit T&Cs Apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-MY-RESET. 21+ Use Bonus Code: LINEUPSBET Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed - When You Bet $5 for 7 Days! Available on Desktop, Android & iOS Easy Deposits, Fast Withdrawals Bet $1, Double Your Winnings on Your Next 10 Wagers (Up to $25 Max Bet Per Boost) Stream NFL Games In-App for Free OH only. 21+.Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET Use Promo Code: LINEUPSDYW Get a 100% Bet Match up to $100 in FanCash for 10 Days Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets Daily Odds & Profit Boosts on Select Games Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly Plus Get up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus Bet on All Your Favorite Sports With America's Top-Rated Sportsbook To Claim: Click Play Now
