Now at last, the All-Star break is over. Now that the regular season is nearing its conclusion, teams are rested and prepared to carry out their strategies. As they approach the final stretch of the season with a 37-17 record and as the second-best team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are preparing to battle for the best possible playoff seeding. The Thunder will play the 36-17 and third-place LA Clippers in the Western Conference in their first game back from the break. A battle to open up the back half of the schedule pits two of the top three clubs in the West against one other. It’s a shame the two teams can’t play one other on the national stage, but this matchup should make for an exciting NBA return night.
INJURY REPORT
Thunder:
Ousmane Dieng, OUT (G League)
Keyontae Johnson, OUT (G League)
Clippers: No injuries to report.
One of the most important things to keep an eye out for in this game is Gordon Hayward’s debut—he isn’t listed as injured. It’s difficult to think he’ll get a lot of playing time given how long it’s been since he last played, and the squad will probably need some time to integrate him into the system. The same is true of Bismack Biyombo’s first appearance. The Clippers’ unblemished record is another important thing to note from the injury report. Naturally, the G League is the reason for the only Thunder players that aren’t playing, so seeing the two teams at full power will make for an amazing game.
UPDATED ODDS
The Thunder are a slim 1.5-point favorite going into the contest, and their edge stems from the Paycom Center, where the game will be contested. After two games this season, the two teams’ season series is tied at one. The All-Star break is preventing either team from gaining momentum in this match. Oklahoma City has a great chance to win this game because the Thunder are a 21-6 squad at home.
