Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals takes place on Tuesday as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the San Antonio Spurs. The game is scheduled for an 9:00 pm start time and it will be televised live on TNT. Currently the odds have San Antonio favored by 4.5 points with the total sitting at 201.5 points for the contest.
Free Analysis: Oklahoma City had a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter of Game 1, but San Antonio won the final stanza 39-27 to post the 101-98 victory. With Sunday’s SU loss/ATS win combo, the Thunder are still a tremendous 24-14 (22-15 ATS) in road games this season, averaging 100.0 PPG. Durant shot just 42% from the field in Game 1 (8-for-19 FG), but he did get to the line a dozen times, making 11 free throws. Westbrook attempted just two foul shots all game and did not have a steal. Starting SG Thabo Sefolosha led his team with a well-rounded stat line of seven points (3-of-7 FG), five rebounds, four steals and two assists. PF Serge Ibaka scored just five points in 22 minutes, but did grab seven boards and blocked a couple of shots. The Thunder got great contributions from the bench to stay close in this game though. Oklahoma City’s reserves made 15-of-29 shots, as SG James Harden dumped in 19 points (5-of-9 threes) and PG Derek Fisher scored a playoff-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Fisher had averaged just 4.2 PPG on 32% FG in the five-game conference semifinals with the Lakers. Oklahoma City is an excellent 17-3 SU (14-6 ATS) following an SU loss this season, and is also a stellar 30-12 (21-20-1 ATS) with just one day of rest. The Spurs are now just the fourth team in NBA history to start the postseason with at least nine straight wins, joining three Lakers teams (1982, 1989 and 2001). SG Manu Ginobili exploded in Game 1 for 26 points and his 9-for-14 shooting day was a bit of a surprise considering how poorly he has shot in the past three seasons against Oklahoma City (24-for-90 FG, 26.7%). His sharpshooting helped offset starting SG Danny Green’s miserable 0-for-6 night (0-for-5 threes). But considering Green’s dead-eye accuracy the last series against the Clippers (12.3 PPG on 56% FG and 11-of-19 threes), he should bounce back with a strong Game 2. San Antonio also got 16 points and 11 rebounds from PF Tim Duncan, while SG Tony Parker started slow, but finished strong with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. In game 1 San Antonio dominated points in the paint (50-26) and outrebounded the Thunder 50-43. The Spurs shot 46% FG, which helped overcome 16 turnovers. Like Oklahoma City, the San Antonio bench also helped out in a big way. In addition to Ginobili’s heroics, reserve PG Gary Neal scored 12 points (5-of-9 FG), while C Tiago Splitter posted a whopping nine points and six rebounds in just 13 minutes of action. The Spurs are a stellar 33-5 (27-9 ATS) at home, outscoring visitors by an average score of 106 to 93. San Antonio is also 17-5 (15-6-1 ATS) after an ATS defeat and 29-9 (24-12-2 ATS) with just one off-day in between games.
Free Pick: I had the Over in game and it was a loser, but I will come right back with it here. In game 1 these teams really were feeling each other out and the offenses never got going till the 4th quarter, but tonight I expect both teams to to be a bit better at the offensive end of the floor. The Spurs put up 101 points in game 1, but for the year they have averaged 105.8 ppg at home, including 106.8 ppg at home in the playoffs. The Spurs have allowed just 93.3 ppg at home this year, but the Thunder are a high scoring team and they have averaged 100.3 ppg on the road this year, plus they have put up 101.8 ppg in the four games these teams have played this year. Game 1 took a while to get going, but game two will be different. these teams will push tempo from the get -go, on their ways to posting an easy over here.
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