The Los Angeles Clippers are visiting Chesapeake Energy Arena to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on the final day of the regular season. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Clippers-Thunder prediction and pick.
The Clippers currently hold the fourth seed with a record of 47-24 after winning five of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Thunder have won only one of their last 10 games and are currently riding a nine-game losing streak for a record of 21-50 and the 14th seed in the Western Conference.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Clippers-Thunder odds.
NBA Odds: Clippers-Thunder Odds
Los Angeles Clippers -9 (-110)
Oklahoma City Thunder +9 (-110)
Over 221 Points (-110)
Under 221 Points(-110)
Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
Injury Report: Terance Mann (questionable), DeMarcus Cousins (questionable), Amir Coffey (out).
Coach Tyronn Lue’s squad currently holds the third-best offensive rating and seventh-best defensive rating in the Association.
Offensively, the Clippers are being led on both ends of the floor by their dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals on the season. PG-13 is putting up 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. The two have also been extremely efficient shooting the ball.
The problem for the Clippers was never with George or Leonard, but trying to find consistent production from players off the bench who can take some of the load off the two stars to create plays and score the ball. With the addition of Rajon Rondo and Demarcus Cousins, those reinforcements are in place.
Based on the injury report, it looks like Leonard and George will play at least a little bit in this regular-season finale. The Clippers know they can still get up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The key for Lue's team will be to treat the game like any other game and to play with the necessary intensity to get a win.
Why The Thunder Could Cover The Spread
Injury Report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (out), Luguentz Dort (out), Mike Muscala (out), Ty Jerome (day-to-day), Al Horford (out).
The Thunder have been tanking the entire second half of the season, and they'll likely be looking to lose this game as well in order to help their NBA Draft Lottery prospects. OKC will be without its top three scorers yet again.
Of course, the Thunder's offense can't get much worse. They have the worst offense in the NBA by a wide margin, and their defense isn't that much better.
To keep this game close, OKC needs a full team effort and for LA to give a mailed-in performance. Plus, we'll see just how much Leonard and George play.
Final Clippers-Thunder Prediction & Pick
The Thunder are the worst offensive team in the league and also in the bottom 10 for defensive rating. The Clippers, on the other hand, rank in the top 10 in both categories. Regardless of whether Leonard or George suit up, the Clippers are still a very talented team with the additions of Rondo and Cousins and so should have the edge to cover the spread on Sunday against the Thunder.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR CLIPPERS-THUNDER: LAC 122, OKC 104 (LAC -9)
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