NBA best bets: Thunder-Blazers matchup leaves us giddy for Giddey

For tonight, we were thinking of keeping it simple and picking on the team that just seems to be far outmatched this evening on the hardwood. We've got a pair of plays here, focused in on the clearest game of value on the board.

Fade the Blazers or endorse the Thunder: This angle checks out

We have often faded Portland when they hit the court, just as we have so frequently backed Oklahoma City when we can. Now, they square off, opening the door for a few clear bets of interest.

Bet: Thunder -13.5 (-108 DK)

The Thunder are the far superior team, and we're going to back them as such. They own one of the league's best offensive (T-second) and defensive (seventh) ratings, and the 12-30 Trail Blazers most certainly are on the other end of that spectrum, with a 29th-ranked offense and 23rd-rated defense. Oklahoma City just throttled Portland by 54 points less than two weeks ago, and when they met in November, it was a 43-point win. 

Portland has lost 11 of its past 12 on the road by an average margin of 22.6 points. Go ahead and grab the Thunder here at -13.5.

Bet: Josh Giddey over 11.5 points (-102 FD)

Giddey has been steady at home of late, averaging 17 points per game over his last four. That includes a 13-point outing against this Portland defense, a team he's gone over against in four of five matchups. That should continue here this evening, the Blazers rank as a bottom-10 defense against SG scoring.

In the news ...

Joel Embiid drops 70 on Spurs — Philadelphia big-man Joel Embiid has now moved to the MVP favorite at +130 following his 70-point night last night against San Antonio. Embiid is now averaging a mammoth 36.1 points per game to go along with 11.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Philly owns the third-best record in the East and might be looking to make another move to push them into title contention.

Heat trade for Terry Rozier — The Miami Heat have made a big move to strengthen their starting five, acquiring PG Terry Rozier from Charlotte for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round pick. Rozier is in the midst of one of his best seasons as a pro, averaging a career-best 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game. Miami currently sits at sixth in the Eastern Conference standings, but it has the fourth-best odds to advance to the Finals out of the East at +1500.

Titans hire former Bengals OC Brian Callahan to be next head coach — The first outside hire for a new NFL head coach has been finalized, with Tennessee tabbing Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as the man to replace Mike Vrabel at the helm. Callahan has worked with notable QBs such as Joe Burrow, Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr. The hope in Tennessee is that Callahan can maximize Will Levis's abilities as the young passer heads into a crucial second year with the Titans.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Griffin Carroll. Follow him on Substack: griffybets.substack.com.