ESPN NBA Playoff Betting – Clippers Fight To Stay Alive After Disappointing Collapse

There is no one around the Los Angeles Clippers, and very few NBA playoff bettors, who could have seen it coming. After all, this team was brimming with confidence after coming back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, and they had a 13-point lead with four minutes left as they visualized taking a 3-2 lead back to the Staples Center to give OKC the “kill shot.”

But the Thunder, on a mission to show they are of championship timber, reached back and found something extra. They hit five field goals and five free throws, outscoring the Clippers by a 17-3 count and getting some help, not only from the officials but also from the usually-reliable Chris Paul, who committed two turnovers in the last 13 seconds. When the dust cleared after a number of bizarre events, OKC was the 105-104 winner. And now THEY have a chance to drive the final mail in the coffin as the teams get together for Game 6 in Los Angeles. Tip-off time is 10:35 PM ET for the ESPN-televised contest.

In the NBA playoff betting odds that BetAnySports has posted on this game, the Clippers are favored:

Los Angeles Clippers -4.5

Oklahoma City Thunder +4.5

Over 212 points -110

Under 212 points -110

Paul would love to forget the last 45 seconds of the game in particular, as he called it the worst experience he has had since coming to the NBA. And the Clippers are pretty sore about a couple of officials’ calls that they thought could have either gone their way or not been made at all; one of those was a foul that Paul was whistled for on a Russell Westbrook three-pointer.

And speaking of Westbrook, the Thunder point guard was simply not to be denied in this game, as he scored 38 points, 14 of which came at the free throw line. He is still trying to do an awful lot by himself, and that is the kind of thing that could backfire if Westbrook hits a cold spell, not that this is any secret to BetAnySports customers.

On an overall basis, Kevin Durant wasn’t his normal self, as he hit just six of his 22 shots. But when it was crunch time he showed some of his MVP stuff, making three field goals in those last four critical minutes and making four free throws. Durant just didn’t miss from the line (12 for 12).

NBA playoff bettors can’t help but notice that OKC owned the paint, with a 44-22 advantage in points, and the Clippers can’t allow that to continue. Any team that has DeAndre Jordan, who has tremendous rebounding and shot-blocking skills, should not find themselves befuddled in the lane, but the Thunder got Jordan into fatal foul trouble in Game 5, eventually fouling him out in what was a scoreless outing.

If Jordan is unproductive again, or the Thunder gets 36 free throw attempts, the Clippers will not live to fight another day. It’s as simple as that. Whoever owns the paint will have the upper hand.