LA Clippers at OKC Thunder (-6.5) 8:05 ET ESPN
Free 1* Game - OKC Thunder (-6.5)
The LA Clippers travel to OKC for this potential playoff preview with the OKC Thunder. As the primetime game of the night, it is scheduled for your viewing pleasure at 8:05 ET on ESPN. The LA Clippers enter with a record of 41-23 SU, good for 5th place in the Western Conference playoff queue. OKC, despite playing much of the season without injured stars, Durant and Westbrook, is 35-28 SU, holding down the 8th playoff spot in the West. These teams have met twice already this season. They split a pair of home court meetings with OKC winning on this court (131-108).
The Clippers enter as the banged-up team tonight. They will play without Blake Griffin and 6th man, Jamal Crawford. Those two average a combined 39 PPG. Of equal importance is the status of PG Chris Paul. When last Paul was in action, he was limping up and down the court with his injured knee in an 89-76 home court win vs. Minnesota. From a longer term perspective, the Clippers have simply not been the same team since the ownership issues of late last season. Their overall play of this season leaves much to be desired, as reflected in their negative 28-35 ATS record. Tonight, the Clippers appear to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Thunder have battled through their own injury problems the entire season. Currently, Durant has missed the previous 9 games. Running mate, Russell Westbrook, has filled his void with a mind-blowing 6 game run. In the last 6 games he has suited up, Westbrook has averaged 37 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in recording 5 triple-doubles. This has spanned the one game he missed due to a fractured cheek bone. He returned after a one game absence to continue his offensive onslaught. OKC is clearly the more motivated team tonight as they cling to the 8th and final playoff spot in the West by a single game in the loss column against New Orleans. As in recent years, the Thunder are now performing at their best on their home court. They enter tonight winners of 7 straight at home.
With the Clippers severely compromised by injury, the Thunder the more motivated team, and Westbrook playing the best basketball on the planet, look for the Thunder to extend their consecutive win streak to 8 games on this court and emerge with a comfortable double digit victory.
So, what say you, loyal Pregamers? Any chance Westbrook pulls out yet ANOTHER Triple-Double? He's getting a ton of love around here, and merited as 37/12/11 is just ridiculous.