OKC Thunder: The regular season ends with the LA Clippers.

Somehow the NBA has made it to the end of the regular season. The OKC Thunder closes it out by taking on the LA Clippers.

What a year 2020 has turned out to be. There was a chance the NBA would not restart due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but here we are at the end of the regular season. The OKC Thunder take on the LA Clippers in a game which has no impact on playoff series.

The Thunder will play the Rockets – that is set, however, depending on the result of today’s matches they could swap spots which may not make a difference to either side.

With almost all the matchups for the playoffs being set, the final game of the season for the Thunder has a little sense of anti-climax but a sensation of relief to it. Who would have thought that in October of 2019 we would be here now?

This team has outperformed any expectations anyone had of them. They have been the feel-good story of the NBA this season and quite simply a joy to watch. The blend of youth and experience has worked out in a way that no one could have expected.

Will the OKC Thunder or LA Clippers play their stars?

Normally when talking about the contest between the Thunder and the Clippers we would be talking about Luguentz Dort taking on the offensive prowess that is Kawhi Leonard. Or we would be talking about how the Clippers big men would try to neutralize Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel.

However, it is safe to assume that neither coaches are going to risk any of their top-line talents in a game which does not mean anything in terms of seeding for the season. We saw when Dort went down last game how a split second can stop a player in their tracks.

The Thunder have had injury scares over the last week with Adams, Noel, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and now Dort. Coach Billy Donovan should run with his second unit to give them some more time before the playoffs.

It is also safe to assume that he is going to keep the rotation very short. Devon Hall, Kevin Hervey, and Deonte Burton will play major minutes. I would also expect to see Terrance Ferguson be given the green light to hopefully get into shooting form.

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• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

However, this is still going to be an enjoyable game to watch. The second unit showed that they have no quit in them in the last game against the Miami Heat. The way they came back to clinch that game was just exciting to watch. This game will still mean a lot to those who play in it.

Game specifics:

LA Clippers Record/Seed: 48-23

The Clippers have been the second-best team in the West in the back half of the season, This is due to having Leonard and Paul George out for periods of the year. When the two of them play, the Clippers are arguably the best team in the West.

While it is unlikely these players will suit up, Doc Rivers is still one of the best coaches in the association and will have his deep bench players primed for the game.

OKC Thunder Record/Seed: 44-27

Since Thanksgiving, the OKC Thunder has been one of the top teams in the association, shown by the fact they are sitting in fourth at the end of the regular season despite their poor start. A lot of this credit goes to the starters but the bench has certainly contributed.

Billy Donovan has shown that he is truly a great coach, being named by his peers as the co-coach of the year. Expect Donovan to have prepared the second unit for the game.

The Venue: Walt Disney World Resort. The Field House.

Tipoff: 6:30 PM ET | 5:30 PM CT

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma | ESPN

Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM OKC

Odds

Not surprisingly the oddsmakers favor the Clippers in this match given their deeper bench. The money line is +230 for the Thunder and -280 for the Clippers with a 6.5 point edge for LA and no over/under listed as of posting.

History

These two teams have met 43 times as they are currently named. The OKC Thunder holds a slight advantage, winning 23 of these games. The two teams have met three times this season with the Clippers winning twice.

18-Nov 88-90, Clippers win

22-Dec 118-112, Thunder win

3-Mar 109-94, Clippers win.

Enjoy the game Thunder Nation and check back afterward for player grades and takeaways.