A couple of Western Conference playoff series tied at one game apiece will be untied tonight. The Thunder enter The Grindhouse in Memphis looking to bounce back from a crushing overtime home defeat, while the wounded Warriors return home after their 40-point annihilation at the hands of the Clippers.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Game 3 (8:00 PM ET)
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder (-2) at Memphis Grizzlies (+2); total 190.0 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
[sc:NBA240banner ]Even with both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook having bad shooting nights (41% combined), Durant’s magic still managed to force overtime in Game 2. They ultimately lost 111-105, but with Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder are never completely out of it.
Durant (34.5 PPG) and Westbrook (26 PPG) have been getting their points vs. the tough Grizzlies defense, but someone other than them or Serge Ibaka must start scoring for OKC. Apart from those three, no Thunder player has topped double-digit points in the series.
They’ll need those points if they’re to improve their road record. The Thunder are just 5-5 SU/3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies showed by withstanding the Thunder’s last-second dramatics in regulation to eventually win in overtime that they will not be shaken by any situation.
Lefty duo Zach Randolph (23 PPG and 8.5 RPG) and Mike Conley (17.5 PPG and 11.5 APG) have been excellent offensively, while their defense has limited the Thunder to just 28% from beyond the arc in the series. Kevin Durant has scored over 30 points in both games, but Tony Allen is making him work for those points.
“The Grindfather” and the Grizzlies now return home to “The Grindhouse”, where they have won 14 straight games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Grizzlies make the most of their homecourt advantage and will cover as 2-point home underdogs.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors – Game 3 (10:30 PM ET)
Line: Los Angeles Clippers (-1.5) at Golden State Warriors (+1.5); total 215.0 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin was absolutely unstoppable in Game 2, punishing the Andrew Bogut-less Warriors in the post with 35 points on 13-17 FG. With no one able to guard him inside, expect another big game from the All-Star forward.
Meanwhile, the Clipper defense has been able to force Golden State to 47 turnovers in the series so far, and turned 26 Warriors’ giveaways into 27 points in Game 2.
The over is 5-0 in the Clippers’ last five road games, and are also 4-1 SU in their last five road games.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry bounced back from a silent 14-points in Game 1 with a team-high 24 points. However, Curry has hit just 3-13 from beyond the arc in the series.
The Warriors hope Klay Thompson will similarly bounce back from his anonymous 7-point performance in Game 2. If the Warriors can’t stop Griffin down low, which they didn’t in Game 2, then they’ll need all the offense they can to beat the Clippers.
The Warriors went just 6-4 SU/5-5 ATS in the last 10 regular season home games, but are 8-2 SU/7-3 ATS in their last 10 at the Oracle vs. the Clippers
Writer’s Prediction
Griffin goes back to work down low as the Clippers roll and cover the 1.5-point spread easily at the Oracle.
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