Tip-off: Thursday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -16.5, Total: 228

The Thunder look for some serious payback on Thursday when they host a Lakers team that upset them just four days ago.

Los Angeles has been a huge disappointment this season as it has dealt with injuries and frequent changes to its rotation. The team has won the occasional big game against top opponents though, including a 114-110 victory over 12-point favorite Oklahoma City on Sunday. The win snapped a three-game losing skid, and the team has had three off-days to prepare for a rematch. The Thunder have played a game since the Lakers disappointment, earning a solid 106-98 win over the Rockets at home as five-point favorites on Tuesday night. That was just the club's fourth SU win in the past nine games (3-6 ATS). Los Angeles is only 11-22 SU on the road this season, but has usually kept the score close, as evidenced by a solid 19-13-1 ATS road mark (59%, T-6th in NBA). Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is one of the best teams in front of their home crowd, going 27-6 SU and 18-15 ATS. The Lakers' upset win on Sunday makes them 3-0 ATS in the season series, but the Thunder won the first two meetings SU. They have dominated L.A. on the boards in each of the three matchups, and rebounding could be a deciding factor on Thursday night as well. Over the past three seasons, Oklahoma City owns an 11-4 SU record in this matchup while also having an 8-6 ATS advantage. The Lakers have been good to bettors this season after allowing 55+ points in the first half of two straight games, going 11-2 ATS in those situations. Meanwhile, the Thunder are 16-5 ATS this season after failing to cover two of their past three games ATS. Injuries have been an issue for Los Angeles all season, and it just learned that star SG Kobe Bryant (knee) will be out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, PF Jordan Hill (knee) is questionable for Thursday, and both PG Steve Nash (leg) and SG Nick Young (knee) are out indefinitely. For Oklahoma City, both SG Thabo Sefolosha (leg) and C Kendrick Perkins (groin) are out for the foreseeable future.

Can the Thunder get their revenge and cover the monster spread? For the answer, connect to The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season. The five StatFox experts have been surging in NBA Best Bets recently with a 55% ATS record (61-50-1) since Feb. 10. StatFox Dave has a strong 58% ATS (42-31-1) Best Bets record since Dec. 1 and is 54% ATS (52-45-1) on Best Bets for the season. StatFox Brian remains red-hot, going 66% ATS (23-12-1) since Jan. 25 and 59% ATS (38-26-1) in Best Bets since Dec. 12.

The Lakers have had little trouble putting the ball in the basket this season, scoring 102.0 PPG (12th in NBA), including 113.2 PPG (47% FG) over their past five games. Their big issue is a lack of defense, as they have allowed 107.9 PPG (2nd-most in NBA) to their opponents this season, including a whopping 124.8 PPG (51% FG) in their past five contests. PF Pau Gasol (17.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG) has been one of the few constants this season and the veteran has scored 20+ points in each of his past six games. He has averaged 18.2 PPG (53% FG) and 8.5 RPG over 40 career games against the Thunder. SG Jodie Meeks (15.3 PPG, 40% threes) is coming off a career-high, 42-point performance against Oklahoma City, adding four steals in the winning effort. In his 12 career games (4 starts) against the Thunder, Meeks has netted 11.7 PPG (43% threes). PG Jordan Farmar (10.4 PPG, 4.9 APG) has given the Lakers an offensive boost of late, scoring 20+ points in the two of the past four games, while making 11-of-20 threes in his past five contests. He has played 19 career games (2 starts) against the Thunder, scoring just 8.6 PPG (49% FG) while dishing out 2.4 APG over that time.

Oklahoma City has scored 105.8 PPG (5th in NBA) this season while making 47.5% of its shots (4th in league). The Thunder have been even better over their past five games though, dropping 115.8 PPG (48% FG) on their opponents, but also allowing them to score a hefty 106.2 PPG (44% FG) in that time. Their defense has played much better throughout the entire season, giving up 99.2 PPG (10th in NBA). SF Kevin Durant (31.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.4 SPG) has averaged 34.6 PPG over his past five games and recorded a triple-double (27 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds) on Sunday against the Lakers. He has had incredible games against Los Angeles this season, scoring 33.7 PPG (49% FG) while grabbing 10.0 RPG and dishing out 8.0 APG. PG Russell Westbrook (21.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, 5.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG) is coming off a strong performance against the Rockets (25 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) and has averaged 19.5 PPG, 10.0 APG and 7.5 RPG in the two games he has played against L.A. this season. Over 19 career games against them, he has 21.7 PPG (40% FG) while adding 7.9 APG and 5.6 RPG. PF Serge Ibaka (15.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG) is second to Anthony Davis for most blocks in the NBA this season (2.6 BPG) and comes into this game with two consecutive double-doubles. His 16.7 PPG (53% FG), 10.7 RPG and 2.7 BPG over three games against L.A. this season have helped the Thunder to two victories.