Predicting the Thunder’s February Record
By Evan Riggs
Schedule: vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Feb 8); at Denver Nuggets (Feb 9); vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Feb. 11)
In week two, holding home court will be crucial for the Thunder. They have not played the Clippers since opening weekend when Perry Jones III almost beat them with 32 points. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be tough to deal with, but the Clippers don’t really have a good matchup for Durant or Russell Westbrook.
The Nuggets could be tricky just because it is the second day of a back-to-back. But when their head coach says things like this, then I would have to think the Thunder will be playing with a much larger sense of urgency than the Nuggets.
As for the Grizzlies, the Thunder certainly owe them after their first two meetings this year. In November, Memphis escaped from Chesapeake Energy Arena with a 91-89 win after Ibaka missed a three that would have won the game. Memphis is always a tough matchup for OKC, because they like to slow the game down and feed their big men, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
The Thunder are 7-0 at home when both Durant and Westbrook play. I expect that to continue this week.
Prediction: 3-0
Next: Week Three