Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 12/15/2018

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Clippers head to Chesapeake Energy Arena to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, December 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 7.5 point favorites.

The Clippers head into this matchup with a mark of 17-11. They are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They have a point differential of 0.7 as they average 114.3 points per contest while giving up 113.6 per game. The Thunder have an overall record of 17-9 this season. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They average 111.7 points per game and surrender 105.2, good for a point differential of 6.4.

Valuable Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 15-12-0 against the spread this season

The Los Angeles Clippers are 17-9-0 against the over/under this year

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 15-11-0 against the spread this season

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 12-14-0 against the over/under this year

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

12/11/18 G Lou Williams Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/29/18 F Luc Mbah a Moute Knee is out indefinitely

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Danilo Gallinari comes into this game averaging 18.6 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 92%. Tobias Harris averages 20.9 points per contest in 34.5 minutes per game. He averages 2.2 assists per game and 8.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Paul George scores 24.3 points per contest while playing 34.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.9 rebounds per contest and has 4.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Dennis Schroder averages 17.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.3 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles averages 114.3 points per contest, which is 6th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.7 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 11th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They average 46.1 boards per contest and 22.3 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 17th with 14.1 per game. The Clippers allow 113.6 points per contest, which is 25th in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 46.4 rebounds a game which ranks 25th, and they allow 24.0 assists per game which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 11th in the NBA with 111.7 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 6.42. They shoot 32% from beyond the arc, which is good for 29th in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 48.5 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 22.9. The Thunder are 12th in turnovers per contest with 14.7. The Thunder give up 105.2 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 8th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 23.7 dimes allowed per game and 12th with 44.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Thunder are 30th in the league in forcing turnovers with 17.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Clippers are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.1, and their defensive rating of 111.4 is ranked 19th. In terms of pace they are 9th in the league with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 17th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 28th in the league. Los Angeles is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA. The Thunder are 19th in the league in defensive rating with 102.8, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 1st. They are 5th in the NBA in pace with 102.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Clippers/Thunder NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles +7.5

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