From the time you step into the gym for your first little league game or when sitting in the crowd at the Paycom Center during the NBA Finals, you can bet your

Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder haven't missed a beat, sitting atop the NBA standings past the midpoint of the regular season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points after a slow start and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Miami Heat 124-112.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (35-7) and Miami Heat (21-20) meet Saturday at 8 p.m. ET from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Thunder vs. Heat odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

On Christmas Day, after losing to the same foe three times in a span of 12 days, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flatly stated that the San Antonio Spurs had proved to be better than the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Dean Wade – PROBABLE (knee), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Oklahoma City has finished with fewer rebounds than each of its last two opponents, but can add a few players who could help on the glass in the NBA Draft.