Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (-1, 220)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have halted a mini-slump while the Los Angeles Clippers have a winning streak for the first time since Feb. 5-8. The two squads square off in Los Angeles on Wednesday when All-Star point guards Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul figure to wage another fierce battle.

Westbrook had 33 points to Paul's 32 and that one point was the difference as the Thunder posted a 100-99 victory over the Clippers on Dec. 21. Westbrook tuned up for the outing on Monday by posting his ninth triple-double of the campaign - 20 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists - as Oklahoma City opened a four-game road trip with a 131-116 win over the Sacramento Kings. The Thunder had dropped four of five games before that victory while Los Angeles recorded a 105-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday for its second straight victory. Paul had 23 points and 12 assists against the Nets for his fourth straight double-double.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Oklahoma, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

LINE: The early overnight odds out of Nevada have this game pegged as a pick'em with the total set at 222 points. Books opened with the Clippers as 1-point home favorites with the total at 220.

POWER RANKINGS: Oklahoma City (-10.7) - Los Angeles (-9) + home court (-3.0) = Los Angeles = -1.3

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "Oklahoma City has played a much tougher schedule than the Los Angeles Clippers since the All-Star break. The Thunder haven’t fared well in those step-up games, but I expect they’ll be ready for this game against the Clippers. Los Angeles is just 2-2 SU in its last four home games, and Oklahoma City won on this court back in mid-December." - Covers Expert Steve Merril.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "The Thunder roll into the Staples center on the first game of a back to back (in Golden State Thursday). The Clippers have been on a bit of a roll as of late, winning 7 out of their past 10.  The Thunder are +1 dogs on the road but are getting the bulk of the early action so far." - Michael Stewart, CarbonGaming.ag.

"These teams are jockeying for that No. 3 seed in the West, which could mean avoiding the Warriors until the conference finals. It's safe to say the smart NBA handicappers see Oklahoma City as the better, and healthier, team at this point. Our first significant action on this matchup came on the road squad so we dropped the spread to a pick. Expecting more love for the Thunder from bettors as tipoff approaches, especially if Mbah A Moute, who I like to call a poor man's Draymond Green, isn't dressed." - Scott Cooley, Bookmaker.eu.

CHEERLEADER WAR:

ABOUT THE THUNDER (42-18): All-Star forward Kevin Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the victory over the Kings and he wasn't shy about expressing why the win was important. "It was huge for us," Durant told reporters. "We'd lost four of five, so if we lose, you guys are going to act like the world is going to end, and nobody in here is laughing or feeling good. It's been an emotional roller coaster for us the past couple of weeks. It was nice to come in here and chill after coasting to a win." Oklahoma City's offense was clicking as it shot 57.3 percent from the field and made 14 3-pointers, while backup center Enes Kanter scored 23 points on 11-of-11 shooting.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (39-20): Los Angeles has won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak in early February and trail the Thunder by 2 1/2 games in the battle for third place in the Western Conference. Backup shooting guard Jamal Crawford poured in 26 points against the Nets and he has been superb with 10 20-point outings in the past 14 games. "I got in a pretty good rhythm," Crawford said after the Brooklyn game. "We just see what's working for us on a particular night. I have the easy part of just shooting. Those guys are drawing up plays and getting open, so credit to them as well."

TWEET BEAT:

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Los Angeles.
* Thunder are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Los Angeles.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Road team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.

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