Russell Westbrook leads the NBA in scoring and is averaging a triple-double. So it's easy to think of Oklahoma City as being a high-scoring, over-the-total team.

Truth be told, though, the Thunder are far more of an under team. The under has cashed in 60 percent of their games this season. The under has cashed in seven of the Thunder's last nine road games. I see that pattern continuing here with Oklahoma City playing at Charlotte.

The Hornets rank in the top 10 in defensive field goal percentage. Westbrook is shooting 39.2 percent from the floor in Oklahoma City's losses. The Thunder opened as underdogs to the Hornets.

Charlotte hasn't played good defense in its last two games - losses to the Cavaliers and Bulls. Charlotte coach Steve Clifford stresses defense and he called his team's defense soft after the latest loss. That stings his prideful team. So expect a strong, intense, defensive effort from the Hornets here. Charlotte has a number of versatile defenders to slow down Westbrook. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lamb either have very good quickness, or excellent length, to bother Westbrook.

The Hornets are geared toward a half-court game, too. Oklahoma City is miscast as an offensive power because of Westbrook's extraordinary season. However, the under has cashed in 13 of Oklahoma City's last 17 games, including the past four. If you discount the Thunder surrendering 114 points to the Grizzlies - in a game in which the sizzling Grizzlies made 59.1 percent of their 3-point shots - Oklahoma City is giving up an average of 95 points in its last four games.