We’re in for a wild Wednesday night, folks. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder will be squaring off for the third time this season. The Clippers enter this bout having won four of their previous five games. The Thunder, meanwhile, will be looking to notch their first back-to-back victories since the All-Star break. Who will reign supreme in this one?
Read on below for a better look at this Western Conference showdown. And if you’re into college basketball as well, check out our tournament previews for the Big Ten and SEC.
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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
When: Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Clippers (+5.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-5.5); total: 215.0– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast:ESPN
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers (41-21)
[sc:NBA250 ]Following a home loss to Atlanta, the Los Angeles Clippers quickly got back on track with a resounding 109-90 win against Dallas on Monday night. During that game, three players scored 20-plus points for Los Angeles and it was none other than Chris Paul, who led the way with team-highs of 27 points and seven assists.
That victory couldn’t have come at a better time, as Paul and co. are set to pay the Oklahoma City Thunder a visit at Chesapeake Energy Arena tonight. And needless to say, the Clippers cannot afford to start slow against a fast-paced and offensive-minded club like Oklahoma City.
Paul, who is averaging 20.0 points and 9.6 dimes this season, will likely get the party started for the Clippers. He’ll be fresh off an astounding performance in the win against the Mavericks. Paul will also be trying to replicate his efforts in their previous meeting with the Thunder last week, wherein he tallied 21 points and 13 assists.
Speaking of assists, the pair of J.J. Redick (16.6 PPG) and DeAndre Jordan (12.4 PPG) has been playing exceptionally well thanks to Paul’s unselfishness. Jordan, in particular, has been feasting on his opponents down the paint. He walks into this game tallying 20.0 points and 16.3 boards in his past three outings. That stretch includes his 23-point, 20-rebound output opposite Dallas.
Defense, meanwhile, will undoubtedly be crucial in this one. The Clippers, who are giving up 100.1 points a game, are bound to have their hands full in stopping the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The two All-Stars combined for 54 points in their last meeting.
Los Angeles is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in its previous 10 road games.
A 3-6 record since the All-Star break has definitely stirred some anxiety in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have fallen to 43-20 overall on the season and have allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to pull within 1 ½ games of them for the third spot in the Western Conference standings. And that being the case, a big-time performance from the pair of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook is badly needed tonight.
Both Durant and Westbrook definitely still remember their embarrassing collapse a few days ago at Staples Center. Rest assured they won’t let that happen again on their own building, wherein the Thunder have won seven of their last 10 games (5-3-2 ATS).
Durant, in particular, should be able put up a masterful performance in this one. The former league MVP is posting 27.3 points, 7.4 boards and 4.0 dimes across 27 games at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Against the Clippers, he’s also been at his best with spectacular numbers of 28.8 points on 46.2% shooting throughout 28 career matches.
Also, Durant and co. will need to be careful with the basketball to avoid another possible collapse. The Thunder are committing an average of 15.7 turnovers this season, which is among the highest in the NBA right now.
OKC is 6-4 SU and ATS in its last 10 meetings with the Clippers.
