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The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers square off at the Staples Center on Friday 10/19/18 as the NBA’s 2018-19 season continues to go full steam ahead.
The Thunder and Clippers are both looking for their first win of the season after dropping their initial assignments. Playing without Russell Westbrook, the Thunder gave the defending champions Golden State Warriors all they can handle before eventually falling 100-108. On the other hand, the Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets 98-107 after leading late in their own opening game on Wednesday.
Waiting For Russ
Before the season began, the Thunder were considered among the favorites to challenge the Warriors in the West. However, after Russell Westbrook underwent a minor surgical procedure on his knee last month, some were worried that the Thunder’s season would be off to a rough start.
But the Thunder were outrebounded 58-45 overall and the Dubs had 17 offensive boards that doomed the Thunder. OKC also made just 36.3% of their shots so that was all she wrote. Still OKC played well enough to head to this game with plenty of confidence, even without their top player.
OKC Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers 10/19/18
Moneyline Odds: Thunder +100, Clippers -120
Odds from Betway as of 10/18/18
Transition Mode
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers admitted that his team is in transition mode after the end of the Lob City era. First to go was Chris Paul who was traded to the Rockets. Then it was Blake Griffin who was traded to the Pistons. DeAndre Jordan left the team for Dallas this past summer. Now Rivers is left with a bunch led by Lou Williams, Avery Bradley and Tobias Harris.
But while Doc’s new crew certainly has the talent, the team is still searching for it’s identity and does not have a go to guy. Without a closer, the Nuggets rallied from an 8 point lead in the final 5:14 to take the game 107-98. Finding that closer will be one of the Clippers’ main concern this season as there will be games that will be close and they will need someone to take over. Such could be the case on Friday against the Thunder.
Who wins?
The Thunder lead their all-time head to head series at 135-75. OKC has also won five out of the last seven games between these two teams, including all three meetings last season. While the Thunder made the playoffs last season and are considered to be one of the top contenders in the Western Conference this year, the Clippers embarked on a rebuild when they traded Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
However, newly acquired Dennis Schroeder played well in his OKC debut, scoring 21 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and issuing 6 assists against the Warriors. Although the Thunder came up short against the defending champs, they made a good account of themselves in an 8 point loss. Not only that, the Thunder “limited” the Warriors to only 108 points on opening night. Golden State averaged 113.5 points last season.
Paul George shot just 9-23 from the floor. If he shoot better, and he will, the Thunder are still dangerous even without Westbrook. With Steven Adams, Patrick Patterson, Jerami Grant Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson, no question OKC has the scrappier and hard working line-up.
Between an OKC team playing without Westbrook and a Clippers team that is in transition mode, I’m laying my money on the former. Even without Westbrook, OKC has a go to guy and closer in Paul George. The Clippers have no one. It’s going to be a close game butwe’re picking the Oklahoma City Thunder to beat the Los Angeles Clippers on 10/19/18.
Oklahoma City is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games but only 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games with two days rest. Los Angeles is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an SU loss. Head to head, the Thunder are 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings and are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings at the Staples Center.
OKC Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers 10/19/18
Spread Odds: Thunder +1.5 (-110), Clippers -1.5 (-110)
Odds from Sportsbetting.ag as of 10/18/18
The Thunder won all three meetings between these two teams last season and they did so by an average winning margin of 9 points. But then again, you can make a case that Russell Westbrook played in all three games and averaged 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game in those three games. However, the Thunder played well without Westbrook in their opening day loss to the Warriors. In fact, OKC gave the Dubs all they can handle. Dennis Schroeder looks like a good fit and I think Paul George will have a better shooting night. I think OKC wins this outright and am taking the plus points for added security.
Prediction: Thunder +1.5
The total has gone under in 12 out of the last 17 games of Oklahoma City and also under in 7 out of their last 9 games on the road. The over is 9-4 in the last 13 games of the Clippers at Staples Center but the under is 6-2 in their last 8 games at home against the Thunder.
OKC Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers 10/19/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 215.5 -110, Under 215.5 -110
Odds from Sportbetting.ag as of 10/18/18
Last season, these teams combined to score at least 230 points in all three games against each other. But remember that Carmelo Anthony is gone and Russell Westbrook is injured for OKC while the Clippers no longer have Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Austin Rivers. We included Austin Rivers because believe it or not, he scored 17 and 23 points in the two games he played against the Thunder. The Clippers have a brand new team and the Thunder’s new season emphasizes more defense. They will score in the hundreds but not enough to get to 216 points.
Prediction: Under 215.5
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