Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers Betting Pick & Prediction 3/23/25
The Thunder (-162) head to Inglewood to take on the Clippers (+137) in a Western Conference matchup. Oklahoma City is favored by 3.5 points and the over/under line is 228.5.
Both teams are on five-game win streaks and tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 ET. The game will be televised on NBA TV.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +3.5
This game will be played at Intuit Dome at 9:00 ET on Sunday, March 23rd.
WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 134-116 in favor of the Clippers.
- Our projections have James Harden finishing with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists.
- From the field, we have the Clippers finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.1% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Thunder Defense Show Up on the Road?
The Thunder improved to 58-12 on the season with a dominant 141-106 win over the Hornets on Friday. Playing at home, Oklahoma City entered the game as heavy favorites, favored by 20.5 points, and covered the spread with a 35-point victory. The total score of 247 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 220 by 27 points.
Oklahoma City set the tone early with a 14-0 run, stretching the score from 14-6 to 28-6. While Charlotte outscored the Thunder 35-32 in the 2nd quarter, Oklahoma City responded by winning the 3rd quarter 37-27 and the 4th quarter 38-30, closing out the game strong.
In their 141-106 win over the Hornets, the Thunder shot 57.4% from the field and knocked down 21 threes at a 53.8% clip. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 30 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, shooting 72.2% from the floor and hitting both of his three-point attempts.
Isaiah Joe, Chet Holmgren, and Jaylin Williams each added 14 points, with Williams connecting on 3 threes at 60%. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points in the 1st quarter and added 11 more in the 3rd, while Joe, Holmgren, and Williams each contributed 9 points in the 4th.
The Thunder’s defense shined in the 1st quarter, holding the Hornets to just 14 points, but they struggled in the 2nd, giving up 35 points. They allowed 27 points in the 3rd and 30 in the 4th, finishing with 106 points allowed in the game.
Oklahoma City allowed Charlotte to shoot 46% from the field, including 46% from three-point range, where the Hornets made 19 threes. The Thunder sent the Hornets to the free-throw line 13 times, where they made all their attempts. Defensively, the Thunder recorded 10 steals and 7 blocks.
Can the Clippers Offense Score Enough at Home?
The Clippers improved to 40-30 on the season with a 128-108 win over the Grizzlies on Friday. Playing at home, LA was favored by 6.5 points and covered the spread, while the game’s total of 236 points went over the pre-game line of 230.5.
After trailing 66-60 at halftime, the Clippers took control with a 12-0 run, turning a 69-65 deficit into a 77-69 lead. They dominated the 3rd quarter, outscoring Memphis 36-16, and closed out the game by winning the 4th quarter 32-26.
James Harden led the Clippers with 30 points and 9 assists in their win over the Grizzlies, hitting 5 threes at a 50% clip. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 75% from the field, while Ivica Zubac also contributed 10 rebounds and 17 points.
As a team, the Clippers shot 57.7% from the field and made 17 threes, connecting at a 50% rate. Harden scored 12 points in the 3rd quarter, while Bogdan Bogdanović added 8 of his 16 points in the 4th.
Despite a rough 1st half, where the Clippers allowed 66 points, they tightened up defensively in the 3rd quarter, giving up just 16 points to help secure the win. Overall, they allowed 108 points on 42% shooting from the Grizzlies.
From beyond the arc, the Clippers gave up 19 threes on 38% shooting. They sent the Grizzlies to the line 13 times, where they made 9 free throws. The Clippers also recorded 7 steals and 9 blocks in the game.