It’s possible the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers meet in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. First things first: They finish off the regular season series on Friday in L.A., and the Clippers have an NBA betting advantage in that OKC is in the second of a back-to-back.
How to Bet Thunder at Clippers NBA Odds & TV Info
“I tell everybody, he’s the type of guy you love having on your team and hate playing against.”
🗯@landryshamet on @patbev21 pic.twitter.com/4P7PtfnUwD — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) 7 de marzo de 2019
- When: Friday, 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Staples Center
- TV: NBA TV
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Los Angeles Clippers -2 (Total 236)
Season Series
Oklahoma City leads 2-1, winning both at home. The one game in L.A. was way back on Oct. 19, with the Clippers winning 108-92. Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris scored 26 points each and the Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter – Harris is now with Philadelphia. Lou Williams added 17 points off the bench. He hit a clutch 3-pointer to snap a 90-all tie and give the Clippers the lead for good midway through the fourth.
The Clippers outscored the Thunder 37-15 in the final quarter. Paul George led the Thunder with 20 points before fouling out with 1:13 remaining in the game. He was 7 of 27 from the field. Steven Adams had 17 points and 18 rebounds. Russell Westbrook was out injured.
The Clippers are 51-54 all-time at home in the series.
Why Bet on Oklahoma City?
This line could change considerably if something happened in Oklahoma City’s game Thursday in Portland. Usually, the Thunder don’t sit guys in the second of a back-to-back, but Paul George is just back from a shoulder injury. And perhaps someone tweaks an ankle, etc.
After shooting 40.4 percent from 3-point range in January, the Thunder’s 3-point shooting percentage has cooled off to 35.7 percent in 14 games in February and March.
The Thunder currently owns the fifth-best defensive rating in the league (105.9) as well as the seventh-best net rating (4.1). OKC also scores more points off opponent turnovers than any other team (20.2), the third-most second chance points (14.9) and the fourth-most fast break points (18.5) while holding the seventh-best overall margin of victory in the league at +4.1 with the third-highest pace (104.11). Oklahoma City leads the league for both the most steals per contest (9.94) and the most turnovers forced per game (17.3).
Russell Westbrook currently leads the league in assists (10.7), fast break points (5.2) and leads all guards in rebounding (11.2) while ranking third in steals (2.07). He holds two scoring titles and led the league in assists last year, putting him on pace to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring in multiple seasons and in assists in multiple seasons.
Over the first 45 games of the season, Jerami Grant shot 33.6 percent from three-point range, good for fifth-best on the team. Since Jan. 21, he has improved to 49.2 percent from beyond the arc, good for best on the team and second-best in the league during that timeframe.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 115.52
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.84
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.77
- Free Throw Percentage: 71.57
- Total Rebounds: 48.11
Defense
- Total Score: 111.35
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.97
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.03
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.80
- Total Rebounds: 45.77
Why Bet on LA Clippers?
The Clippers have strengthened their playoff chances on a three-game winning streak. They were 113-105 winners over the Lakers on Monday. Luc Mbah a Moute warmed up before the game, but wasn’t quite ready to return from the left knee injury that has kept him out for 61 games since Oct. 23. Wilson Chandler (strained right quadriceps) also sat out.
Danilo Gallinari shot 3-of-5 from three in Monday’s win, finishing with 23 points (9-of-15 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. Gallinari has now scored 18 points or more in each of his last eight games.
Lou Williams had 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), five assists, three rebounds and one steal in the win. Williams has scored at least 17 points in each of his last nine games, but he has not shot the ball particularly well. Over the last five the veteran guard is shooting just 34.5% from the field and 19.2% from three.
Fellow reserve Montrezl Harrell was productive in his 34 minutes on the floor Monday, as he tallied 14 points (7-of-15 FGs), 11 rebounds and five assists. Prior to Monday, Harrell last recorded a double-double on February 11. Over the last five Harrell’s averaging 19.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 60.0% from the field and 64.7% from the foul line.
It’s possible both play Chandler and Mbah a Moute play here. Chandler has yet to debut for the Clippers since coming over in trade from Philly but has practiced since Wednesday. Chandler said he’s planning on returning to the floor for Friday’s game. On Wednesday, Mbah a Moute practiced for the first time since going down with the knee injury in October so he might go too. Simply would be depth.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 114.12
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.84
- Three-Point Percentage: 38.26
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.43
- Total Rebounds: 45.38
Defense
- Total Score: 113.44
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.37
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.93
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.77
- Total Rebounds: 45.88
Thunder vs Clippers NBA Betting Trends
- Favorite is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings
- Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in LA
- Home team is 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings
- Oklahoma City is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Oklahoma City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oklahoma City’s last 10 games on the road
- LA is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- LA is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Clippers’s last 5 games at home
Expert NBA Betting Prediction
Oklahoma City Thunder 116 – Los Angeles Clippers 118
