The Oklahoma City Thunder have a clear talent advantage over the Washington Wizards, but with the spread creeping up higher and higher, watch out for the Wizards to back door cover the Thunder.

The relentless Thunder responded to a rare loss — a 129-122 setback against the Cleveland Cavaliers — by blitzing the New York Knicks on Friday. That included a 70-43 half-time lead, and I’m picking OKC to deliver another dominant first half here while flexing its muscles on both ends of the floor.

Oklahoma City boasts the top defense in the NBA, holding opposing teams to just 103.5 points per game with a league-best 103.4 defensive net rating. They’re doing it on the back of a stable of dominant perimeter defenders, which include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.