Chris Paul and the Clippers rained down threes all night on the Thunder to take Game 1 in Oklahoma City. Can Kevin Durant and the Thunder respond to salvage a split in the first two games before heading west? How do you think the second round will go? Answer our survey here.
Paul’s play was one of the keys in our series preview, and he showed why. If you think this is a a sign of things to come in the series, open a betting account and put your money on the Clips – these former underdogs are going to contend for the title.
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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 Betting Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 – May 5, 9:30 PM ET – Los Angeles 122 at Oklahoma City 105
Game 2 – May 7, 9:30 PM ET – Los Angeles (+5) at Oklahoma City (-5); total: 215.0 – view all NBA lines
Game 3 – May 9, 10:30 PM ET – Oklahoma City at Los Angeles
Game 4 – May 11, 3:30 PM ET – Oklahoma City at Los Angeles
Game 5 (if necessary) – May 13, TBA – Los Angeles at Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary) – May 15, TBA – Oklahoma City at Los Angeles
Game 7 (if necessary) – May 18, TBA – Los Angeles at Oklahoma City
The Los Angeles Clippers’ offense has proven time and again that it is the best in the NBA (1st in Offensive Rating), and Game 1’s glittering performance only cemented that fact.
It all starts with the best point guard in the world, Chris Paul. Paul had a virtuoso Game 1 (32 points, 12-for-14 FG%, 8-for-9 3PFG), his second amazing performance in as many games.
It’s no coincidence that if Paul plays well (27 PPG, 12 APG in his last two games), the Clippers offense reaches dizzying heights (over 120 points in both games.) The total has gone over in eight of the Clippers’ last 10 games.
Paul most likely won’t hit eight straight threes again, but the Clippers should still have enough offense even with the inevitable Paul drop-off in Game 2. Guards JJ Redick (14 PPG) and Jamal Crawford (16.8 PPG) have been playing their best basketball of the postseason over the past few games.
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder can console themselves with the fact that any team would’ve lost to the Clippers with the way they were shooting in Game 1, but Scott Brooks still has a lot of work to do in preparation for Game 2. While the scoreline from Game 1 may have looked relatively respectable, almost all of the Thunder’s 31 points in the fourth quarter came in garbage time with the game out of reach. It was a rout.
Thabo Sefolosha returned to the starting line-up in the series’ debut, but even his famed perimeter defense couldn’t prevent the Clippers’ onslaught. The total has now gone over in six of the Thunder’s last seven games.
Brooks still decided to go with Caron Butler for longer stretches in the game, but that may change with the Thunder desperately in need of Sefolosha’s defense to shut down the Clippers’ crafty guards.
Reggie Jackson (four points, 1-for-8 FG) was thoroughly outplayed by his 6th man counterpart Crawford, which cannot happen again if the Thunder plan to even up the series.
Writer’s Prediction
Some Clippers regression and Thunder retaliation will likely make Game 2 a much more competitive contest. But with the offensive firepower on disply, points will still be pouring in. Take the over.
