A tantalizing Western Conference showdown is in the cards later tonight as the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder lock horns in a blockbuster clash at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Spurs (.726) and the Thunder (.675) have the NBA’s two highest winning percentages since the start of the 2010-11 season so expect an intense battle between the two sides.
After a highly-successful offseason which saw them land prized big men LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, the Spurs are definitely locked and loaded for a run at title no. 6. They will have their work cut out for them, however, against the Thunder who are desperate to return to their previous 50-victory level this season.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Indiana vs. Toronto and Chicago vs. Brooklyn.
[sc:NBAArticles ]San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 8:00 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs (+4.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-4.5); total: 208.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
All eyes will be on LaMarcus Aldridge later tonight as he finally makes his much-awaited debut for the Spurs after his blockbuster move last summer from the Portland Trail Blazers. Aldridge was the talk of the town last July when he signed a lucrative four-year $80 million deal with San Antonio. Signing the talented big man was a major coup for the Spurs who typically aren’t the team that lands the biggest prize on the free-agent market.
[sc:NBA240banner ]It would be interesting to see how Aldridge will fare alongside the Spurs’ legendary Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Aldridge posted monster numbers against the Thunder last season, averaging 27.0 points against them last campaign. That being said, he shot only 41.4 percent against the Thunder and averaged 23.3 shots per game against them last season.
Those numbers are bound to improve, though, with Aldridge having a talented squad around him this season. Parker, Duncan and Ginobili showed they still had it last season, combining for an average of 12.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 12.1 assists last campaign. Kawhi Leonard also made major strides last campaign, leading the Spurs in scoring (16.5) and steals (2.3). Leonard has carried that form this past preseason, averaging a team-best 15.3 points per game.
The Spurs went 2-1 against the Thunder last season and their victories were by an average of 32 points.
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Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
Let the Billy Donovan era begin in Oklahoma City.
The 50-year-old will finally make his NBA coaching debut for the Thunder later tonight when he takes on the San Antonio Spurs. It’s going to be a baptism of fire for the rookie head coach who will pit his talents against veteran bench tactician and five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich. It’s bound to be a gargantuan task for Donovan who will lock horns with a man who has already accumulated a whopping 1,022 regular-season victories in his career.
That being said, Donovan is no slouch either when it comes to the coaching department. He won two national championships with the University of Florida during his 19-year stint with the Gators. He also went to four Final Fours and seven Elite Eights in that span. Donovan will take comfort in the fact as well that he has two of the world’s best players in his ranks for tonight’s ballgame – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Durant is a four-time scoring champion who averaged 32 points in the 2013-14 season. He is finally back after playing just 27 games last season because of a broken right foot. Westbrook stepped up big time in Durant’s absence, averaging a career-high 28.1 points last season. He also led the team in assists (8.6) and steals (2.1) last campaign.
For the Thunder to be successful this season, Donovan will need to figure out how to get Durant and Westbrook enough touches this campaign. If the preseason is an indicator, Oklahoma City will be just fine. The Thunder went 5-1 during that time, and were unbeaten in the games that Durant and Westbrook both played in.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio (+4.5) wins, 104-95.
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