Thunder favored to defeat the Clippers in Western Conference clash

Updated February 21, 2024
Updated February 21, 2024By Dean Etheridge

Oklahoma City Thunder plays host to the LA Clippers when the NBA gets going again on Thursday night. The Thunder (-130) goes into the match as the betting favorite. And in our latest NBA betting picks, we tell you if they will win this Western Conference showdown. 

Thunder Favored To Defeat The Clippers In Western Conference Clash

The NBA resumes on Thursday after the All-Star Game break with 12 fixtures on the slate

One of the standout matches is the Western Conference clash between the second-place Oklahoma City Thunder and third-place LA Clippers. Both sides trail the Timberwolves at the top of the table by 1.5 and 2 games, respectively. 

The Timberwolves get their season restarted on Friday against the Bucks. So the clash at the Paycom Center 24 hours earlier represents a chance for one of the teams to close the gap at the top. Even if it’s just temporarily.  

Latest Western Conference Betting

When it comes to the Timberwolves, the best NBA betting sites aren’t paying a lot of attention to the Conference table in the betting to win the postseason playoffs. The current betting favorites are the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, at +250. The Nuggets are joined at the top of the betting by the Clippers, who are also +250.

The Phoenix Suns are third favorites at +650, with the Thunder at +700 and the division-topping Timberwolves at +750

Outside of the leading five candidates are the Mavericks and Golden State Warriors at +1400. The LA Lakers are +1600.

Betting to win the 2023/24 NBA Championship

In the latest betting to win the 2024 NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics lead the way.

Boston has been the standout team in the NBA this season. They have a 43-12 record in the Eastern Conference. As a result, the best NBA finals betting sites make the Celtics just +265 to win the 2024 Championship.

The franchise the betting sites think are most likely to stop Boston is the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are +475 to go back-to-back in 2024

Not far behind their Western Conference rivals are the LA Clippers at +500. While after all their upheavals in recent weeks, the Milwaukee Bucks have slipped to +700. The Suns are next at +1200, with the Thunder at +1400 and the Timberwolves at +1600.  

Thunder vs. Clippers Match Betting

Betting for this Western Conference clash is close. And it’s to be expected, with both sides so evenly matched. The home-court advantage means the Thunder are favorites at -130 on the money line. The Clippers are +110.

On the handicap spread, the Clippers are receiving a 1.5-point start. To win with the spread, LA is -110. To win and cover the spread, the Thunder is -110.

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On the total points spread, 238.5 is the line set by the best NBA betting sites. Both over and under 238.5 is -110. The last time these two met, 245 points were scored. The match was in mid-January at the Crypto.com Arena. 

Below are more options from different sportsbooks on our NBA betting table. You can read more about the bookmakers we have used on our online sportsbook reviews page.

Thunder vs. ClippersBovadaBetOnlineMyBookie
Thunder-130-130-130
Clippers+110+110+110
Thunder (-1.5)-110-110-110
Clippers (+1.5)-110-110-110
Over 238.5-110-110-110
Under 238.5-110-110-110

Thunder vs. Clippers; Latest Form

The Thunder sit second in the Western Conference with a 37-17 record. They are currently 1.5 wins behind the Timberwolves, having played one match fewer. Their home record is 21-6, and they are on a winning streak of two.

Oklahoma has won its last four home games, including a five-point win (105-100) over the Nuggets at the end of January. The last time they lost at Paycom Center was in the match before the win over the Nuggets. On that occasion, they went down 107-101 to the Timberwolves

The Clippers are in slightly better form. In their last ten matches, they are 7-3 (the Thunder are 6-4). And they are two wins behind the Timberwolves in the Conference table, having played two matches fewer.

The Clippers are 36-17 overall this season. At home, they are 20-6, and on the road, 16-11

They are currently on a road-trip winning streak of five. Although, it would have to be said the five wins didn’t come against any of the top sides in the NBA. Of the five teams they defeated, the Heat has the best record. And they sit 7th in the Eastern Conference with a 30-25 record.  

Thunder vs. Clippers; Our Pick to Win

Both these two teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The bookmakers seem to favor the Clippers to do better in the postseason. But in recent matches, when LA has faced top-notch opposition, they have fallen short. They lost heavily to the Timberwolves in the week before the All-Star Game, and their last defeat on the road came against the Cavaliers (who sit second in the Eastern).

As for the Thunder, they’ve also had some funny results in recent weeks. A 35-point loss to the Mavericks just under two weeks ago is the main evidence to back that view up. 

This looks like a real 50/50 call to name a winner. And with the spread also being tight at 1.5 points, we feel it’s best to look at the total points line for a pick.

Over 238.5 points have been covered in Oklahoma’s last five matches. And as the home team, we say they will dictate the direction of the match. We are backing over 238.5 points for our betting pick.  

Over 238.5 Total PointsThunder vs. Clippers
-110
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Summary
Event
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers
Location
Paycom Center,Oklahoma City,Oklahoma
Starting on
February 23, 2024
Ending on
February 23, 2024

About the Author

Dean Etheridge
Dean Etheridge

Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.

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