Thunder vs. Clippers prediction: NBA odds, best bets, picks for Tuesday

One night after a hard-fought loss to the Lakers, Oklahoma City continues its two-game swing through Los Angeles as it battles the division-leading Clippers on Tuesday.

Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have been one of the top stories in the NBA this season and have put themselves in a terrific position to be a top-four team in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers are putting it together after a slow start following the acquisition of guard James Harden from the 76ers in late October. 

Los Angeles lost the first five games with Harden in the lineup, but the team has one of the league’s best records since, going 22-7 in its last 29 games.

Since losing at home to the Lakers on Dec. 23, the Thunder have won nine of their last 12 games to sit just a game back of the Timberwolves for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The Thunder are coming off another tough loss to the slumping Lakers on Monday night. Rookie sensation Chet Holmgren got into early foul trouble for OKC, allowing the Lakers to have a 20-point advantage in the paint.

Holmgren should have an easier time staying on the court Tuesday night with rim defender Ivica Zubac out with a calf injury. 

The Thunder rolled the Clippers in their first matchup, 134-115, as 6.5-point home favorites on Dec. 21. Los Angeles played without Kawhi Leonard, and OKC got another terrific performance from Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 31 points against his former team.

Gilgeous-Alexander showed up on the injury report Monday against the Lakers with a right knee sprain. However, he played and scored 24 points in 34 minutes.

His status for Tuesday night’s game is unclear, so we’ll have to see how the knee holds up for the second game of the back-to-back.

Betting on the NBA?

The Clippers had their three-game winning streak snapped Sunday at Minnesota, 109-105, but they have won 11 of their last 12 games at Crypto straight-up and are 11-9 against the spread at home, with many of the defeats coming before Harden arrived in L.A.

Look for the Clippers to bounce back Tuesday night and knock off a Thunder squad playing on the second leg of a back-to-back with a less-than-100% star point guard.

Pick: Clippers -5.5 (-110, Caesars)