Western Conference action closes out Friday night’s bloated slate when Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-3, 10-8 ATS) head to the “Golden State” to battle Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (6-11, 8-9 ATS); NBA TV will be there for the opening tip at 10:30 ET.

Leroy’s Sportsbook currently has the Thunder installed as 4.5-point road favorites with the ‘total’ lined at 198.

The Thunder introduced themselves to the major players in the league the last couple seasons by giving the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks all they could handle in the playoffs before ultimately succumbing. Humility is a funny thing and something OKC has grappled with the last couple seasons, so it should come as no surprise that Head Coach Scott Brooks’ squad checks in as one of the best in the league over the course of the first month of the season. The Thunder check in with a gaudy 15-3 SU record – the best in the NBA – and they currently hold a two-game lead over the Denver Nuggets for the top spot in the Northwest Division. KD’s 25.7 points per game average is the best on the team, and as a whole, the Thunder’s averaging a healthy 99.3 PPG (#5) and checks in as the second best free throw shooting team in the league (80.4%). OKC’s won seven of its nine road games played to date and covered five of those games against the closing pointspread.

Though the Warriors have dramatically improved themselves at the defensive end of the court with first year Head Coach Mark Jackson looking on, the end result has been the same with the Warriors aligned in the basement of the Pacific Division standings. The squad has had to deal with numerous injuries to its most integral parts, but now only Kwame Brown remains on the pine with a chest injury that could have him out till late April. Last Golden State took to the hardwood, it snapped a three-game SU & ATS losing streak by toppling the Portland Trailblazers as 3.5-point home chalk. The big three of Monta Ellis, David Lee, and Curry all had enormous games, and the defense held its third straight opponent to 94 points or less. If that recipe continues, the Warriors should start winning a few more games. As it is, GSW checks in 4-6 SU & ATS as a host on the year.

The home team has won each of the L/4 and eight of the L/10 meetings between these teams; the ‘over’ is 6-4 during that stretch. Oklahoma City won two of these Western Conference rivals three meetings last season, but Golden State covered all three games to move to a perfect 4-0 ATS in the L/4 overall meetings. OKC has covered four of their L/5 as a road chalk, and the road team has covered 12 of the L/17 in the recent series. The Warriors have covered each of their L/4 home games versus a +.600 opponent, but has also come up short in covering each of their L/4 as a home underdog up to 4.5-points.

For more weekly sports betting match-up analysis, you can follow North Shore Sports, INC on Twitter @NShoreSports & on Facebook at facebook.com/NorthShoreSports.