Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers Prediction, NBA Odds
The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder continue their title defence on Tuesday night with a visit to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is set for 11 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. The Thunder enter the matchup undefeated at 7-0, while the Clippers sit at an even 3-3 after a heartbreaking 120-119 loss to Miami last night.
With LA playing the second half of a back-to-back and the city still riding the buzz from the Dodgers’ World Series parade celebration, the challenge ramps up significantly against the league’s best early-season team. The Thunder swept the season series against the Clippers 4-0 last year. This matchup will be the first of three scheduled meetings in 2025-26, and the Clippers will again attempt to slow down Canada’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a measuring-stick matchup.
Thunder vs. Clippers NBA Betting Odds
Oklahoma City is a 7.5-point road favourite on the NBA odds, but the Thunder are only 3-4 ATS despite their perfect record. The Clippers are 3-3 SU but just 1-5 ATS, creating an interesting clash in betting trends. The total sits at 221.5, a number influenced by both teams ranking bottom five in pace and bottom five in free-throw rate.
OKC owns the NBA’s No. 1 defensive rating, while the Clippers sit just 20th after being one of the league’s elite defensive units a season ago. Turnovers are a glaring storyline here: the Thunder force them at the fifth-highest rate and the Clippers commit them more than any team in the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder may be the league’s deepest roster, which matters even more with multiple rotation players on the injury report. Jalen Williams (OKC’s second-leading scorer during their title run) has yet to debut this year and will remain sidelined. Luguentz Dort (illness), Jaylin Williams (shoulder sprain), and the young and promising Ajay Mitchell (gluteal contusion) are all game-time decisions.
Still, OKC keeps rolling. Gilgeous-Alexander leads the MVP conversation early again, averaging 33.6 points per game with elite efficiency. Chet Holmgren has elevated his game to the next level, with 23.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and Isaiah Hartenstein has been a force on the glass. Even without a full roster, the Thunder’s defensive physicality, ball security, depth and star power make them incredibly tough to crack.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers’ lineup uncertainty is just as, if not more, concerning. Bradley Beal is unlikely to play, and Kawhi Leonard’s status will likely come down to late-day injury management. Without Leonard, the offensive burden shifts heavily to James Harden (21.8 ppg, 9.2 apg) and Ivica Zubac, who leads the team in rebounding. LA also needs scoring help from John Collins and Derrick Jones Jr., who has shot the ball well early but isn’t reliable enough to carry perimeter offence.
While the Clippers rank top 10 in limiting points in the paint and top 15 in limiting points on the break, their inability to protect the ball and their defence slipping from last year’s standards has led to inconsistent performances.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Thunder vs. Clippers?
These teams both limit paint scoring and avoid transition situations, meaning this matchup profiles as a grind-it-out defensive contest. The Clippers will try to turn the game into a slog, but OKC’s defensive pressure and depth advantage should win out, especially if Leonard sits. The Thunder generate turnovers, can dominate the defensive glass and are better late in close games. We like the champs to stay unbeaten and we like a low total even more, with a final score of 109-101 in the Thunder’s favour expected.