Russell Westbrook may be the best point guard in the league. That statement will be put to the test when the Oklahoma City Thunder go head-to-head with the Splash Brothers and the Golden State Warriors.
Can Westbrook continue on his high-flying ways? Or will Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson outplay their competition? Read on as we break down this intriguing matchup between two Western Conference powers.
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[sc:NBAArticles ]Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors Preview
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland
When: Thursday, December 18, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook scored 32 points and recorded seven assists, Kevin Durant had 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took their seventh straight win at the expense of the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Westbrook has been stellar as of late averaging 27.8 points per game in the past nine contests. However, the Thunder point guard isn’t just a proven scorer. He can also create key opportunities for his teammates to score with 6.8 assists per game.
What could come into play in this game is Westbrook’s ability to force turnovers (1.7 steals per game), especially matching up against Golden State’s Stephen Curry. The Warriors point guard leads his team with 3.3 turnovers per game.
If the Warriors decide to clamp down on Westbrook, then they may leave Durant open to make easy shots. Durant has scored 21.5 points per game since returning from injury on December 2.
Lost in the Westbrook-Durant dynamic is the steady play of Serge Ibaka. While Durant and Westbrook were nursing their injuries, Ibaka showcased his scoring abilities with 16.1 points per game on .452 shooting. With his two dynamic teammates back in action, Ibaka has been more prominent on the other side of the ball. He has averaged 3.1 blocks per game in December.
Ibaka may also have an increased presence on the boards if Golden State’s Andrew Bogut misses this upcoming game. Ibaka has averaged 6.9 rebounds per game this season.
The Thunder are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games against Golden State.
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Betting on the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors’ win streak ended at 16 after a 105-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Stephen Curry had a horrible night on the field going 9-for-25, including 1-for-10 from downtown, but still managed to rack up 19 points. Curry also had six assists and four steals in the game. The other half of the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson, had a better outing with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting (4-of-5 from beyond the arc).
If the two were to click at the same time, then they’d be able to give Oklahoma City major headaches defending against their hot hands. That’s easier said than done though, as the Thunder have a tight three-point defense allowing only .289 shooting from downtown.
The Warriors may once again miss center Andrew Bogut due to a knee injury. If they do, then expect Draymond Green to be the Warriors’ main source of rebounds. Green has averaged 10.3 rebounds per game with Bogut sidelined. Unlike Bogut, Green is also a capable scorer. He has 13.4 points per game on .462 shooting.
Meanwhile, Marreese Speights may also make his presence felt off the bench after contributing 18 points and eight rebounds in the Warriors’ loss at Memphis. He had another big game in the first matchup against Oklahoma City on November 23. Speights led the team with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting against the Thunder.
The Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Thunder blow past Golden State. Take Oklahoma City to win and cover comfortably.
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