Clippers Try to Inch Closer to Thunder out West
The NBA Western Conference features a great matchup on Wednesday night between two of the top four teams when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The current line has Los Angeles favored by 1 point with the over/under point total on 220.5.
Entering this game, Oklahoma has an overall record on the season of 42-18 straight up and 24-35 against the spread. On the road, the Thunder is 17-10 SU and 9-18 ATS. On the season,
Los Angeles is 39-20 SU and 29-27 ATS. At home, the Clippers are 20-10 SU and 14-15 ATS.
Oklahoma City has ended its run of poor play, while Los Angeles has put together a winning streak. The two teams will feature a battle between two of the best point guards in the NBA in Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles’ Chris Paul.
Westbrook scored 33 points to 32 for Paul on December 21 when the Thunder beat the Clippers 100-99. This past Monday, Westbrook recorded a triple double for the ninth time this season scoring 20 points, grabbing 15 boards and handing out 13 assists in a 15-point win over the Kings.
Prior to the win, Oklahoma City had lost four of its previous five. Los Angeles defeated Brooklyn on Monday 105-95 for its second consecutive victory. Paul scored 23 points while handing out 12 assists for his fourth consecutive double double.
Kevin Durant Oklahoma City’s star forward scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out six assists in the Thunder’s win against Sacramento.
The Clippers have back-to-back wins for the first time since early February when they won three straight. The Clippers trail Oklahoma City by 2 ½ games for third place out West.
Clippers backup guard Jamal Crawford scored 26 points versus Brooklyn on Monday.
Durant has recorded 20 points or more in 46 straight games for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City reserve shooting guard Dion Waiters scored 22 points versus the Kings.
The Clippers backup point guard, Austin Rivers, could return to action by the end of this week, but will miss Wednesday’s game.
The UNDER has cashed in each of the past 4 games between the two teams played in LA.
Prediction: These two teams are both high scoring teams, but at times when they face one another the defense picks up for both and the score ends up being lower. Odds makers have the total points at 220.5 so expect high scoring and a close finish. Lean toward the Clippers.
