The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are set to face each other in Game 5 of their best-of seven series on Thursday night, which will take place in San Antonio. The game has a start time of 9:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on TNT. Current odds have the Spurs listed as 4 point favorites, while the total sits at 206.
Stat Packs: The Oklahoma City Thunder fell behind in the series 2-0, but they have now evened up the series with back-to-back home wins. Serge Ibaka was to miss the rest of the playoffs, but he returned to the Thunder lineup in a surprising development and have proceeded to score 24 points, grab 15 boards and block 7 shots in the two games since his return. In the post-season Kevin Durant has led the offense with an average of 29.8 ppg, while Russell Westbrook is second, at 26.6 ppg. Serge Ibaka (12.2 ppg) and Reggie Jackson (10.5 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. Durant leads the team rebounding (7.5), while Westbrook leads them in assists (7.5). Defensively the Thunder allowed just 99.8 ppg on 43.6% shooting during the regular season, but in the playoffs they have allowed 102.2 ppg on 44.0% shooting.
The San Antonio Spurs had the best record in all of the NBA this year and they and have played like it for much of the playoffs and they looked ready to roll through the Thunder after 2 home blowouts to start the series, but the Thunder woke up back at home and now the series is tied at 2 games apiece. The Spurs are averaging 105.6 ppg on 48.6% shooting in the playoffs and are led by Tony Parker, who is averaging 18.1 ppg so far. Tim Duncan (16.0 ppg), Manu Ginobili (14.0 ppg) and Kawhi Leonard (13.0 ppg) have also averaged in double figures for the Spurs. Defensively this was a solid team this year, ranking 6th in points allowed (97.6 ppg) and 8th in defensive FG% defense (44.4%), and in the playoffs they have allowed 98.6 ppg on 44.0% shooting.
Pick: Going with the Over in this one. The Spurs have been an offensive machine on their home floor in the playoffs, where they have averaged 113.7 ppg in their last 7 games, putting up 109 points or more in 6 of those games and the Thunder have allowed 106.4 ppg in their last 11 playoff games, including allowing 109 ppg in their last 5 on the road. Yes the thunder are a better team defensively with Ibaka in there but still it is very hard to stop this spurs team on their home floor, especially since they were stymied for both games in Oklahoma City. Offensively the Thunder are better with Ibaka in there and scored 106 and 105 points in the two home games with him back. This should be a faster paced game so I can see the Thunder putting up at least 104 points in this one, while the Spurs should get no less than 108 of their own. That has me capping this one at at least 212 points. Take the Over here.
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