Sportsbook.ag NBA West Finals Game 5 Preview

The Western Conference Finals head back to Texas all tied up as the Thunder and Spurs each try to gain a series edge in Thursday's Game 5.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (69-30) at SAN ANTONIO SPURS (72-26)

This series has gone the way of the home team, which has won each of the first four games easily. In the first two contests, the Spurs won by an average of 26.0 PPG while the Thunder took both games at home by an average of 11.0 PPG. On Tuesday night, Oklahoma City came out and put on a show, hitting 51% of its shots in the first half and finishing the game with a 105-92 victory as two-point favorites. San Antonio’s offense was stagnant in the two road defeats, shooting under 40% from the field in each loss. No starter on the Spurs played more than 26 minutes in Game 4, as they were down by too much and were setting up for the next contest. PG Russell Westbrook and SF Kevin Durant combined for 71 points in Tuesday's win while no player on San Antonio put up more than 14 points. San Antonio will be happy to head back home as it has lost nine straight in Oklahoma City and is 40-10 SU (26-24 ATS) when playing in front of its fans this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder are 29-20 SU (24-24-1 ATS) in their away games over the course of the season. Including playoffs, Oklahoma City is now 6-2 (SU and ATS) in this season series to improve to a solid 13-8 SU (14-6-1 ATS) in this matchup over the past three seasons. But during this same timeframe, the Spurs are 7-3 SU (5-4-1 ATS) at home versus the Thunder. Oklahoma City has gone 53-34 ATS (61%) after having won two of its previous three games in the past two seasons while the Spurs are 124-86 ATS (59%) after a double-digit loss since 1996. Both teams come into this game with no significant injuries to their rosters.

Oklahoma City has been a great offense all season long, scoring 105.6 PPG (47% FG) throughout the season, including 103.0 PPG (45% FG) in the playoffs. They club has shot well in this series too, hitting at least 46% FG in three of the four games. SF Kevin Durant (24.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG in series) had his best scoring performance of this series in Game 4, netting 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting while adding five rebounds, five assists and three steals. He has been all over the place with his shooting in this round, hitting 50% or more of his shots in two games while going 14-for-35 (40% FG) in the other two. PG Russell Westbrook (26.5 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.8 RPG, 2.5 SPG in series) was absolutely unbelievable on Tuesday, going for 40 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals while looking unstoppable as he shot 12-of-24 from the field and 14-of-14 from the charity stripe. Even with his strong shooting performance in Game 4, he is still shooting just 41% in this series. PF Serge Ibaka (12.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG in series) has made a profound effect in this series since returning from a hamstring injury and has been a force down low with seven blocks in his two games. He has not played much of a role in the offense though, attempting just 15 shots in the two contests while making 10. PG Reggie Jackson (9.8 PPG, 3.3 APG in series) was just 1-for-5 for three points on Tuesday after dealing with a tweaked ankle, and has made just 3-for-11 from long range over the four games.

San Antonio has been one of the most efficient offensive teams all season long with 105.4 PPG on 48.6% FG, and has been just as strong in the postseason with 105.6 PPG on an identical 48.6% FG. The Spurs defense has held opponents to 97.8 PPG on 44.3% FG, including 98.6 PPG on 44.0% FG during the postseason. These playoff defensive numbers have been even more impressive at home (94.4 PPG on 42.5% FG), including limiting the Thunder to just 91.0 PPG on 42.6% FG over the two games in San Antonio this series. PG Tony Parker (14.8 PPG, 6.3 APG in series) averaged only 11.5 PPG and 4.0 APG in the two losses in Oklahoma City while failing to get to the free-throw line once. He has shot 50% or better in three of the four games in this series, but has nearly as many turnovers (11) as assists (13) over the past three contests. PF Tim Duncan (16.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG in series) played just 25 minutes in Game 4, making 3-of-8 shots while scoring nine points and adding six rebounds. He has not logged more than 30 minutes in any of the games in this series, and has shot under 42% from the field in each of the past three games. SF Kawhi Leonard (10.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG in series) has seen his production really drop in this series, and has made just 16-of-40 FG (40%) over the four games. He had 10 points and five rebounds in Tuesday’s loss while on the court for 25 minutes. SG Manu Ginobili (14.3 PPG, 1.3 SPG in series) played only 11 minutes in Game 4, shooting just 2-for-8 while not adding a single assist or rebound in the game.