Injury Report, Updated Odds (2/22): Oklahoma City Thunder vs. LA Clippers
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The All-Star break has finally come to an end. Teams are now fresh and ready to execute their plans as the regular season is in the final stretch. The Oklahoma City Thunder is gearing up to fight for their best possible playoffs seeding as they enter the stretch of the season 37-17 and the No. 2 team in the Western Conference.
In their first matchup out of the break, the Thunder is taking on the LA Clippers, who are 36-17 and No. 3 in the Western Conference. Two of the top three teams in the West are battling to open up the back end of the schedule.
This matchup should provide an entertaining first night back for the NBA, and it's a shame the two teams can't play each other on the national stage.
Injury Report
Thunder:
Ousmane Dieng, OUT (G League)
Keyontae Johnson, OUT (G League)
Clippers:
No injuries to report.
The debut of Gordon Hayward, who isn't on the injury report, is a big thing to watch for in this game. Since it's been so long since he's played on the court, it's hard to imagine he'll get a lot of playing time, and the team will likely take time implementing him into the system, too.
The same goes for Bismack Biyombo and his debut.
Another notable takeaway from the injury report is the Clippers' clean slate. Of course, the only Thunder inactive players are due to the G League, so the two teams playing at full strength will provide for an incredible matchup.
Updated Odds
Heading into the game, the Thunder is a short 1.5-point favorite, and that slight advantage is coming from the fact that the game is being played in the Paycom Center. The two teams have played twice this season, with the season series being split 1-1.
Neither team is bringing momentum into this game because of the All-Star break. With the Thunder being a 21-6 team on their home floor, this game is a big opportunity for Oklahoma City.
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