NBA Playoffs – Western Conference Semifinals
Game 5 – Series tied 2-2
Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:35 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -5.5, Total: 212.5

After tying up their Western Conference Semifinals series at two games apiece on Sunday, the Clippers go on the road for a pivotal Game 5 with the Thunder on Tuesday night.

This series has been absolutely thrilling, and Game 4 was no different, as Los Angeles won 101-99 as a five-point favorite at home on Sunday afternoon. Oklahoma City led the entire game, even by as much as 22 points, until less than 90 seconds remaining when the Clippers went up 99-97 and saw SG Darren Collison score eight of his 18 points in the final three minutes of the game. L.A. attempted 93 field goals for the second straight game, making 39 of them (42% FG), but the difference was its defense that limited the Thunder to 44% FG and 29% threes (7-of-24) in the game. Oklahoma City also struggled with turnovers, coughing up the ball 16 times, and giving up 22 points off of those mistakes. PF Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 25 points as four different players had 18+ points in the win. Going back on the road will be tough for Los Angeles, but the club is a solid 25-21 SU and 26-19-1 ATS away from home this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder have an excellent 37-10 SU record (26-20-1 ATS) when playing in front of their fans. The victory by the Clippers brought their record against Oklahoma City over the past three seasons to 7-8 SU, while going just 6-9 ATS. This season, these teams have split their eight games SU (4-4) while the Thunder hold the 5-3 ATS record. Bettors should take notice that Los Angeles is 12-4 ATS after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games this season, but Oklahoma City is 15-3 ATS after a close loss by three points or less over the past three seasons. SF Hedo Turkoglu (back) remains the only injury between these two teams as he is out indefinitely for the Clippers.

Los Angeles has continued its very impressive offensive season and is putting up 110.2 PPG (47% FG) so far in the postseason after leading the league in the category over the regular season with 107.9 PPG. In this particular series, the Clippers are scoring 107.0 PPG on 44.9% FG, but only 31.0% threes. PG Chris Paul (19.5 PPG, 10.0 APG, 2.9 SPG in playoffs) has a double-double in each of the past five games (23.0 PPG, 12.2 APG) and had 23 points with 10 assists, five rebounds and four steals in Sunday’s win. He has at least three steals in three straight games and has an amazing 47 assists to just six turnovers (7.8 Ast/TO ratio) this series. PF Blake Griffin (23.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG in playoffs) led the team with 25 points in Game 4 and has 23+ points in three of the four games in the second round. He has still yet to grab double-digit rebounds in the postseason, but came close with nine boards on Sunday. C DeAndre Jordan (10.5 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 3.0 BPG in playoffs) had his highest rebound total in this series so far (14), but has scored just seven points in three of the four games. As usual, he has shot efficiently from the field (14-for-20 FG) against the Thunder, but is just 3-for-17 from the foul line. SG Jamal Crawford (16.3 PPG in playoffs) had his best all-around game on Sunday, scoring 18 points with five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. PG Darren Collison (9.4 PPG in playoffs) was the hero in Game 4 with 18 points, but had averaged just 6.0 PPG in the previous three games.

Oklahoma City is putting up 104.5 PPG (46% FG) so far in the postseason and has increased those numbers in this series to 108.0 PPG (47% FG), but has also shot poorly from downtown (31.8% threes). SF Kevin Durant (31.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) was 12-for-24 from the field and 15-for-18 from the free-throw line in Game 4, finishing with 40 points while adding seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. That increases his series averages to 33.3 PPG (51% FG), 7.8 RPG, 5.5 APG and 1.3 SPG. Durant did struggle in some areas though, hitting just 1-of-7 three-pointers and turning the ball over eight times in the game. PG Russell Westbrook (26.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.5 SPG in playoffs) has scored 23+ points in each game of this series, including 27 points with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in the Game 4 defeat. He has been shooting much more efficiently in this round, hitting 56% FG, compared to just 38% FG in the first round. PF Serge Ibaka (13.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG in playoffs) had just eight points and five rebounds on Sunday, but did contribute four blocks. He had just four blocks combined over the first three contests of this series. PG Reggie Jackson (10.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG in playoffs) has double-digit points in each of the past two games and put up 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting on Sunday afternoon.