LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction 12/18/2025 Today’s NBA Picks

The Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Paycom Center on Thursday night. Here’s a LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction. This article will include a LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick.

Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview 

The Los Angeles Clippers have been in a slump as they’ve lost nine of their last 10 games overall and they will be hoping to arrest a four-game slide after getting mauled by the Grizzlies in a 121-103 loss on Monday. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 21 points on nine of 18 shooting, Kris Dunn added 17 points with five assists while James Harden chipped in with 13 points and six assists.

As a team, the Clippers shot 46 percent from the field and 13 of 36 from the 3-point line, but they had no answer for the Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr and Cam Spencer who torched them for a combined 58 points on 22 of 31 shooting. Kobe Brown had a rough game as he shot just two of 10 from the field for his nine points while Harden shot just four of 10 from the field and one of four from the free throw line. 

Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have started the season on fire with 24 wins from their first 26 games. But they are coming into this one off a rare defeat after falling to the Spurs in a 111-109 loss in the NBA Cup on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 29 points with five assists on 12 of 23 shooting, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each scored 17 points while Alex Caruso chipped in with 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists off the bench.

As a team, the Thunder shot just 41 percent from the field and nine of 37 from the 3-point line as they got off to a great start and looked to be in control after taking a 16-point lead. However, the game changed once the Spurs’ Victor Wembenyama checked in as the Thunder were thrown off their game and couldn’t regain the lead after falling behind with just 2:32 left in the fourth quarter. 

Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win

• The Thunder have won each of their last 37 night games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Clippers have lost each of their last eight games at Paycom Center.
• The Thunder have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games at Paycom Center following a loss.
• The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games at Paycom Center.

Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win

• The Clippers have won three of their last four road games against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
• The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Clippers’ last five games.
• The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games at Paycom Center against Pacific Division opponents that held a losing record.

Total Points Facts

• Five of the Clippers’ last six games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Four of the last five games between the Clippers and Thunder at Paycom Center have gone OVER the total points line.

Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points per 36 minutes (35.1) this season.
• Jalen Williams leads all Thunder players for assists per 36 minutes (7.3) this season.

Los Angeles Clippers Player Facts

• Kris Dunn ranks 3rd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.6) this season.
• John Collins is one of only 10 qualified Centers in the league shooting at least 80% from the free-throw line this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (17.9).
• The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent field goal percentage this season (42.6%).
• The Clippers rank 30th in the league for turnover percentage this season (14.2%).
• The Clippers rank 29th in the league for assists per game this season (23.7).

LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction

The Clippers have ruled out James Harden, Derrick Jones Jr and Bradley Beal, while the Thunder are missing Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Nikola Topic. The Clippers have been in terrible form all season and things are about to get tougher without Harden sitting on the sidelines. This is bad timing because they have to visit the Thunder, who are coming into this one fresh off just their second loss of the season.

The line was always going to be hefty for this matchup, but I can picture the Thunder starting strong and running all over this banged up Clippers squad. They won’t have enough firepower to hang in the contest unless Leonard can wind back the clock with a big game.

Peter Tran's Pick: Oklahoma City -18.5