20* T'Wolves/Thunder ESPN Friday No-Brainer on Oklahoma City -13

Minnesota vs. Oklahoma City, 02/22/2013 20:00 EDT, Score: 111 - 127

Point Spread: -13/-110 Oklahoma City

Sportsbook: Pinnacle

Result: Win

The Oklahoma City Thunder have not lost four straight regular-season games since the first season that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook joined forces. The Thunder will try to avoid such a skid Friday night when they host a Minnesota Timberwolves team they have beaten in 13 of the last 14 meetings.

Oklahoma City (39-15) is enduring its longest slide of the season after falling 122-119 at Houston on Wednesday. The Thunder allowed former teammate James Harden to score 46 points and yielded 47.8 percent shooting. "As a team, we gave up too many points, 66 points in the second half is not us, it's not what we pride ourselves on," coach Scott Brooks said. "We have to regroup and figure it out defensively."

I look for the Thunder to come out highly motivated tonight to beat a Minnesota team that they have owned. Oklahoma City beat Minnesota 106-84 in their most recent meeting on January 9th as a 12.5-point favorite. I look for a similar beat down tonight with the Thunder being able to rest their starters in the 4th quarter.

The Timberwolves are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Thunder are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. The Timberwolves are 1-10-2 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 1 days rest. Minnesota is 1-10 ATS in road games versus very good shooting teams - making >=48% of their shots - 2nd half of the season since 1996. These four trends combine for a 31-2 system backing Oklahoma City. Bet the Thunder Friday.