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Spurs look for rare win in OKC Tuesday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 5/27/2014  at  5:22:00 AM
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SAN ANTONIO SPURS (72-25)

at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (68-30)

NBA Playoffs – Western Conference Finals
Game 4 – San Antonio leads series 2-1
Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -3, Total: 207.5

After an important win in Game 3 of this series, the Thunder look to even the series at two games apiece when playing at home Tuesday night against the Spurs.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook breakdown on Game 4:

The return of PF Serge Ibaka to the Oklahoma City lineup certainly gave the team a big boost in a crucial 106-97 win as 2.5-point favorites on Sunday night. The defense was very impressive as San Antonio was held to just 39.6% FG in the game after it had shot 53.8% FG over the first two contests of this series. Ibaka’s presence was certainly felt, as he helped the Thunder out-rebound the Spurs 52-38 while also getting 10 blocks compared to just two by the Spurs. Both SF Kevin Durant and PG Russell Westbrook went 8-for-19 from the field for Oklahoma City while combining to score 51 points in the game. SG Manu Ginobili scored a team-high 23 points for San Antonio, as PF Tim Duncan and SF Kawhi Leonard were the only other players that reached double-digits. Even with Sunday's loss, the Spurs are still 32-15 SU (26-21 ATS) when playing in road games while the Thunder are an impressive 39-10 SU (27-21-1 ATS) at home. Even after losing the first two games of this series, Oklahoma City is still 5-2 (SU and ATS) in this matchup this season and is 12-8 SU (13-6-1 ATS) in all meetings over the past three seasons, which includes a stellar 9-1 mark (SU and ATS) when hosting San Antonio. But the Spurs don't usually lose twice in a row, going 20-4 SU (14-10 ATS) when following an SU loss this season, and they are also excellent with less than two days' rest, going 57-19 SU (43-33 ATS) in this scenario. But the Thunder are an outstanding 14-4 ATS versus very good teams (6+ PPG margin) this season and 17-5 ATS at home versus teams that force 14 or less turnovers per game in the second half over the past two seasons. With Ibaka making his way back to the lineup, neither team has any significant injuries going into Game 4.

The Spurs have been impressive once again in these playoffs and are scoring 106.5 PPG on 49% FG (40% threes) so far in the postseason, which has improved to 110.3 PPG on 49% FG (42% threes) in the Western Conference Finals. Their defense has been stellar as well, allowing opponents to score just 98.2 PPG on 44% FG (34% threes), including 96.0 PPG on 44% FG (29% threes) this series. PG Tony Parker (15.0 PPG, 7.0 APG in series) had just nine points (4-of-13 FG) in Sunday’s loss while having as many turnovers as assists (four). He did not get to the free-throw line in the contest and has attempted only five fould shots in his past four games combined. PF Tim Duncan (19.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG in series) had 16 points and eight rebounds in Game 3, and has made 11-of-12 free throws in this series so far. He has not been efficient from the floor over the past two games though, making only 12-of-29 (41%) from the field. SG Manu Ginobili (17.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG in series) had his best game of this series on Sunday, scoring a team-high 23 points while draining 6-of-9 three-pointers and dishing out four assists. He has yet to miss a free-throw in this series (8-for-8) while making 17-of-29 shots (59%), including 10-of-15 (67%) from behind the arc. SF Kawhi Leonard (10.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG in series) had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting on Sunday while adding a block and two steals. He now has averaged 2.6 SPG over his past five games and has at least two steals in four of those five contests.

Oklahoma City’s offense has been tremendous all season long, scoring 106.2 PPG (47% FG, 36% threes) during the regular season before dropping 107.2 PPG (48% FG, 34% threes) in the six-game series win over the Clippers. But the club has just 96.0 PPG (44% FG, 29% threes) for this series due to a weak 1.1 Ast/TO ratio (54 Ast, 48 TO) and a horrendous 8-for-42 clip (19%) from behind the arc in its past two contests. SF Kevin Durant (22.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 APG in series) had a double-double (25 points, 10 rebounds) on Sunday and has made 37-of-39 free throws in his past five games. His efficiency has not been good over his past two games though, making just 14-of-35 FG (40%) and 1-of-8 threes in that time. PG Russell Westbrook (22.0 PPG, 6.3 APG, 6.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG in series) had a great all-around performance on Sunday with 26 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block) in Game 3, but has struggled with turnovers all postseason, coughing up the ball 4.4 times per game. After shooting a solid 49% (35% threes) in the last series versus the Clippers, Westbrook is making only 38% FG (27% threes) over the first three games of this series. PF Serge Ibaka (12.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.4 BPG in playoffs) gave his team a huge lift in Sunday’s win, scoring 15 points while adding seven rebounds and four blocks. He made 6-of-7 shots in Game 3 and is shooting 63% in the postseason. PG Reggie Jackson (12.0 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.0 RPG in playoffs) has shot well all series at 52% FG, and thrived in his starting role on Sunday with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds.


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