Clippers Laying 2 Points to Thunder in Paul George’s Return to OKC
- Paul George returns to OKC on Sunday night for the first time since being traded to the Clippers in the offseason
- The Clippers are 21-9 this year, sitting third in the Western Conference
- Get the odds, our pick, and all the info you need to bet the game below
Paul George will make his highly-anticipated return to Oklahoma City on Sunday evening as the LA Clippers and OKC Thunder face off for the second time this season(Dec 22 tip-off 7 PM EST). On November 18th, LA fought it out with OKC at Staples Center, winning by a score of 90-88 after George sunk a game-winning three with just 25.3 seconds left.
The Clippers have been one of the most impressive teams in the NBA this year with their dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, while the Thunder have actually exceeded expectations, currently playing .500 basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, the two players who went to OKC in the Paul George trade, have led the way for Billy Donovan’s team.
LA Clippers vs OKC Thunder Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Clippers | -2 (-110) | -130 | O 221.5 (-105) |
| OKC Thunder | +2 (-110) | +110 | U 221.5 (-115) |
*Odds from December 22
The Clippers will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after facing the Spurs on Saturday night, but despite that, the latest LA Clippers vs OKC Thunder odds favor Los Angeles by two points.
Clippers Receiving Contributions from Everyone
The Clippers have looked like a well-oiled machine this season, ranking in the top 10 of the NBA in both offensive and defensive rating. They’re 7-3 in their last 10 games heading into Sunday’s matchup. That included an absolute dogfight against the Houston Rockets earlier in the week, where they lost 122-117 thanks to Russell Westbrook’s 40 points for Houston.
By no surprise, Leonard and George have both led the way for LA, averaging just over 25 points each. Kawhi has also grabbed a team-leading 7.9 boards per contest. Leonard missed eight games due to load management, while George has played just 19 games after spending the first couple weeks of the season on the shelf with a shoulder injury. Despite their absences, the Clippers have still managed to play efficient basketball this year. LA still sits in third place in the West behind the Nuggets and LeBron’s Lakers.
?@yg_trece already holds the franchise record for games with 6+ threes in a season… ??????? ???? ?? ?????. pic.twitter.com/eaoJnkHtNr
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 21, 2019
Their bench has been absolutely fantastic, leading the league in numerous categories. Their second unit plays 22.2 minutes per contest while averaging 51.1 points per night, both first in the NBA. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell have been exhilarating off the bench for Doc Rivers, averaging 19.4 and 19 points, respectively.
Former Clippers Making mark in OKC
There wasn’t a lot of optimism for the Thunder heading into this season so it’s safe to say they’ve surprised everyone so far. Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have really found a home in OKC after playing for the Clips last season. They both lead the Thunder in scoring, averaging 18.6 and 18 points per night. Gallinari has also been sharp from downtown, leading the Thunder with a 39.5% three-point percentage.
"Shai Scoop" ᵀᴹ @shaiglalex | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/a13vrOGPOo
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2019
The addition of veteran Chris Paul has definitely helped Billy Donovan’s team as well. The nine-time All-Star is the ultimate playmaker for Oklahoma City, dishing out a team-leading 6.3 assists per game while also dropping 16.2 points per contest. The Thunder have been a very good shooting team this season with the likes of efficient shooters like Gallinari and Paul, sitting fourth in the NBA with a 47.1% field goal percentage.
Gallo ❄️❄️❄️❄️ 4 pointer.@gallinari8888 | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/mDbaF6z5LY
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 21, 2019
OKC is on a three-game winning streak heading into Sunday night’s contest on home court against the Clippers.
Clippers Should Come Out on Top
Even though OKC have won their last three games, that could change on Sunday night. Los Angeles is just 7-7 on the road this year, while the Thunder are just 4-9 at home. But with Kawhi and George healthy and set to be in the starting lineup, they should lead the Clippers to an important victory on the road.
I expect it to be a close contest like it was in November when these two teams battled in LA, but just as they did back then, the Clippers will sneak out with the win.
Pick: Clippers -2 (-110)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
