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Warriors try to slow down surging Thunder on Friday
by Freddy Wander
Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -1.5, Total: 207.5
The Thunder try to win on back-to-back nights against tough Western Conference opponents when they host the Warriors on Friday.
Golden State is coming back down to earth after a 10-game SU winning streak (7-3 ATS), losing two of its past three games (0-3 ATS). The Warriors played in a shootout on Wednesday night against Denver, eventually losing 123-116 to the 9-point underdog Nuggets while allowing a season-high 54.2% FG. The Thunder just played in a big come-from-behind win against the Rockets on Thursday night as they allowed 73 points in the first half and were trailing by 14 points going into the break, but held Houston to a paltry 19 second-half points, and won easily by a score of 104-92. The victory snapped a three-game road losing streak for Oklahoma City and was only their fourth win in the past nine games. Golden State has won seven of its past eight road games (5-3 ATS) coming into this one and is 13-10 (both SU and ATS) away from home this season. The Thunder have been one of the better home teams in the NBA on the season at 16-3 SU, but are only 10-9 ATS there. These two have already met twice this season with the home team coming away with a one-point victory in each game, but the away team covering ATS and the total going over in both. The Over has gone 8-2 in the past 10 meetings in this series with Oklahoma City going 8-2 SU (7-3 ATS) in those contests. The Warriors have been great as road underdogs over the past three seasons though, going 47-29 ATS (62%) in those situations, but the Thunder have been good to bettors as favorites over the past two seasons with a 65-49 ATS record (57%). C Jermaine O’Neal (wrist) remains out indefinitely for the Warriors while newly acquired SGs Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks are both expected to make their Golden State debuts on Friday. PG Russell Westbrook (knee) is likely out until the All-Star break for Oklahoma City.
Golden State has been a great offensive team for years now and is averaging 107.1 PPG and 46.8% FG in seven January games to improve its season numbers to 103.6 PPG (9th in NBA) on 46.3% FG (7th in league). The Warriors benefit from tremendous three-point shooting and are ranked 3rd in the league in three-pointers made (9.4 per game), while hitting 38.4% of their shots from deep (4th in the NBA). Golden State's strong defense has allowed 99.0 PPG (11th in league) on 43.2% FG (4th in NBA) this season, but gave up its most points since Oct. 31 when it surrendered 123 points to the Nuggets on Wednesday night. PG Stephen Curry (23.0 PPG, 9.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG) has been cold over the past five games, making just 36% FG and 26% from behind the arc (12-of-47). However, Curry has averaged 27.0 PPG (44% threes), 8.0 RPG and 7.0 APG in two games versus the Thunder this season, increasing his numbers to 22.9 PPG (49% FG), 6.7 APG and 4.3 RPG in 16 career contests against them. PF David Lee (19.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG) is coming off his fourth double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) in seven January games, averaging 23.1 PPG on a tremendous 61% FG with 10.9 RPG this month. He has played in 20 career games (17 starts) against Oklahoma City, scoring 16.8 PPG (51% FG) and grabbing 10.8 RPG, but has underperformed in the two games against them this season (15.0 PPG on 35% FG, 8.0 RPG). SG Klay Thompson (19.3 PPG, 41% threes) is one of the league’s biggest threats from long range and has dropped 21.5 PPG (8-of-18 threes) in two games against the Thunder this season. Overall in his young career, he has netted 13.2 PPG (46% FG, 41% threes) in nine games in this series.
Oklahoma City looks like it could be the team to beat in the Western Conference this season as it has performed admirably with and without star PG Russell Westbrook (21.3 PPG, 7.0 APG, 6.0 RPG). The Thunder are scoring 104.7 PPG on 46.3% FG this season, which both rank sixth in the NBA. Their defense has been solid as well, allowing only 97.6 PPG (7th in league) on a stingy 41.9% FG (2nd in NBA). On Thursday held one of the top offenses in the league (Rockets) to a franchise-low 19 second-half points on 19% FG and 0-of-14 threes. SF Kevin Durant (30.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG) is carrying the team on his back right now in averaging 36.8 PPG (44% FG) and 5.4 APG over the past five games. He has shot poorly against the Warriors this season, with 22.5 PPG on 34% FG (2-of-8 threes), but has grabbed 10.0 RPG and dished out 6.5 APG in the two meetings. He has shot much better in his 23 career starts against them though, averaging 29.7 PPG (50% FG, 44% threes), with 8.8 RPG and 5.0 APG. PF Serge Ibaka (14.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 BPG) had a huge game against Houston on Thursday (21 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks), and is averaging 16.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 4.0 BPG over the past three games. Ibaka has a higher career average against the Warriors (13.1 PPG, 59% FG in 15 games) than he has against any other NBA team while also averaging 8.1 RPG and 2.4 BPG in those contests. Ibaka has been wonderful against Golden State this season with 22.5 PPG (60% FG), 13.0 RPG and 3.5 BPG. PG Reggie Jackson (13.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) has delivered with Westbrook out, and put up 23 points (11-of-19 FG) to go along with six steals against the Rockets on Thursday. He has scored 10.0 PPG (42% FG) in two games versus the Warriors this season while coming off the bench, but is just 1-for-14 from three-point range in his nine career games against them.
by Freddy Wander
Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -1.5, Total: 207.5
The Thunder try to win on back-to-back nights against tough Western Conference opponents when they host the Warriors on Friday.
Golden State is coming back down to earth after a 10-game SU winning streak (7-3 ATS), losing two of its past three games (0-3 ATS). The Warriors played in a shootout on Wednesday night against Denver, eventually losing 123-116 to the 9-point underdog Nuggets while allowing a season-high 54.2% FG. The Thunder just played in a big come-from-behind win against the Rockets on Thursday night as they allowed 73 points in the first half and were trailing by 14 points going into the break, but held Houston to a paltry 19 second-half points, and won easily by a score of 104-92. The victory snapped a three-game road losing streak for Oklahoma City and was only their fourth win in the past nine games. Golden State has won seven of its past eight road games (5-3 ATS) coming into this one and is 13-10 (both SU and ATS) away from home this season. The Thunder have been one of the better home teams in the NBA on the season at 16-3 SU, but are only 10-9 ATS there. These two have already met twice this season with the home team coming away with a one-point victory in each game, but the away team covering ATS and the total going over in both. The Over has gone 8-2 in the past 10 meetings in this series with Oklahoma City going 8-2 SU (7-3 ATS) in those contests. The Warriors have been great as road underdogs over the past three seasons though, going 47-29 ATS (62%) in those situations, but the Thunder have been good to bettors as favorites over the past two seasons with a 65-49 ATS record (57%). C Jermaine O’Neal (wrist) remains out indefinitely for the Warriors while newly acquired SGs Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks are both expected to make their Golden State debuts on Friday. PG Russell Westbrook (knee) is likely out until the All-Star break for Oklahoma City.
Golden State has been a great offensive team for years now and is averaging 107.1 PPG and 46.8% FG in seven January games to improve its season numbers to 103.6 PPG (9th in NBA) on 46.3% FG (7th in league). The Warriors benefit from tremendous three-point shooting and are ranked 3rd in the league in three-pointers made (9.4 per game), while hitting 38.4% of their shots from deep (4th in the NBA). Golden State's strong defense has allowed 99.0 PPG (11th in league) on 43.2% FG (4th in NBA) this season, but gave up its most points since Oct. 31 when it surrendered 123 points to the Nuggets on Wednesday night. PG Stephen Curry (23.0 PPG, 9.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.8 SPG) has been cold over the past five games, making just 36% FG and 26% from behind the arc (12-of-47). However, Curry has averaged 27.0 PPG (44% threes), 8.0 RPG and 7.0 APG in two games versus the Thunder this season, increasing his numbers to 22.9 PPG (49% FG), 6.7 APG and 4.3 RPG in 16 career contests against them. PF David Lee (19.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG) is coming off his fourth double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) in seven January games, averaging 23.1 PPG on a tremendous 61% FG with 10.9 RPG this month. He has played in 20 career games (17 starts) against Oklahoma City, scoring 16.8 PPG (51% FG) and grabbing 10.8 RPG, but has underperformed in the two games against them this season (15.0 PPG on 35% FG, 8.0 RPG). SG Klay Thompson (19.3 PPG, 41% threes) is one of the league’s biggest threats from long range and has dropped 21.5 PPG (8-of-18 threes) in two games against the Thunder this season. Overall in his young career, he has netted 13.2 PPG (46% FG, 41% threes) in nine games in this series.
Oklahoma City looks like it could be the team to beat in the Western Conference this season as it has performed admirably with and without star PG Russell Westbrook (21.3 PPG, 7.0 APG, 6.0 RPG). The Thunder are scoring 104.7 PPG on 46.3% FG this season, which both rank sixth in the NBA. Their defense has been solid as well, allowing only 97.6 PPG (7th in league) on a stingy 41.9% FG (2nd in NBA). On Thursday held one of the top offenses in the league (Rockets) to a franchise-low 19 second-half points on 19% FG and 0-of-14 threes. SF Kevin Durant (30.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.5 SPG) is carrying the team on his back right now in averaging 36.8 PPG (44% FG) and 5.4 APG over the past five games. He has shot poorly against the Warriors this season, with 22.5 PPG on 34% FG (2-of-8 threes), but has grabbed 10.0 RPG and dished out 6.5 APG in the two meetings. He has shot much better in his 23 career starts against them though, averaging 29.7 PPG (50% FG, 44% threes), with 8.8 RPG and 5.0 APG. PF Serge Ibaka (14.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 BPG) had a huge game against Houston on Thursday (21 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks), and is averaging 16.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG and 4.0 BPG over the past three games. Ibaka has a higher career average against the Warriors (13.1 PPG, 59% FG in 15 games) than he has against any other NBA team while also averaging 8.1 RPG and 2.4 BPG in those contests. Ibaka has been wonderful against Golden State this season with 22.5 PPG (60% FG), 13.0 RPG and 3.5 BPG. PG Reggie Jackson (13.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG) has delivered with Westbrook out, and put up 23 points (11-of-19 FG) to go along with six steals against the Rockets on Thursday. He has scored 10.0 PPG (42% FG) in two games versus the Warriors this season while coming off the bench, but is just 1-for-14 from three-point range in his nine career games against them.
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