LA Clippers (19-14) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-6)
January 2, 2025 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Oklahoma City Thunder -9.5; Over/Under: +217.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Clippers invade the Paycom Center to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. Here’s an Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers Prediction. This article will include an Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers Pick.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers have been in pretty good shape as they’ve won five of their last seven games overall, but they will be hoping to bounce back in this one after getting smashed by the Spurs in a 122-86 road defeat on Tuesday. James Harden led the team in scoring with 17 points, Norman Powell added 15 points while Amir Coffey chipped in with 14 points off the bench, but no other player scored more than seven points.
As a team, the Clippers shot a miserly 34 percent from the field and 11 of 41 from the 3-point line as they struggled right from the tipoff and were never in the contest after falling behind by 20 points going into halftime. The Clippers will play the Hawks, Timberwolves, Nuggets, Hornets, and Heat next.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in red-hot form as they’ve won 16 of their last 18 games overall and they will be gunning for an eighth straight victory after taking down the Timberwolves in a 113-105 home win on Tuesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with a game-high 40 points on 15 of 23 shooting, Isaiah Hartenstein added 15 points with 10 rebounds and four assists while Jalen Williams and Lugentz Dort chipped in with 14 points each.
As a team, the Thunder shot 47 percent from the field and 12 of 36 from the 3-point line as they struggled to get going and trailed by 12 points early. The Thunder flipped the script and took over the contest with a 43-point explosion in the third quarter to build a 14-point lead. Cason Wallace had a rough game as he shot just one of eight from the field to finish with just five points.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Clippers have lost each of their last nine games at Paycom Center following a loss.
- The Thunder have won each of their last 13 games as favorites against the Clippers.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last eight games as favorites against the Clippers following a win.
- The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games at Paycom Center following a loss.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Clippers’ last six games as road underdogs has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Thunder’s last six home games against the Clippers following a home win has gone OVER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers Prediction
The Clippers are still missing Kawhi Leonard and Terance Mann, while the Thunder are still playing without Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso. The Clippers were on a great run before they laid an egg in an ugly loss to the Spurs on Tuesday, while the Thunder have been on fire and just took down the Timberwolves in a solid win. The Clippers are capable of surprising everyone and pulling off the upset here. The Thunder are just in a groove at the moment, and I don’t want to back against the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when he is in this type of form. Give me the Thunder to stay hot with another win and cover at home.
