Thunder at Spurs Game 5 Pick

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs

Game 5

Thursday 9:00 EST

May 29, 2014

Game 5 Line: San Antonio -5 (Subject to change. Click here for current odds)

Here they go again.

Not that long ago, the San Antonio Spurs blew a 2-0 lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals two years ago. Well, after a second consecutive dominating performance from the Thunder, after getting blown out in the first two games, the Spurs are in danger of another historic collapse.

The Spurs inability to win in Oklahoma City shouldn’t surprise anyone, having lost eight in a row entering Game 4; getting embarrassed in both games should. This was a team that won a league best 62-games, even with resting their superstars, only to ensure their key players were fresh for the playoffs.

This was a team that had been toying with their opponent, laying the hammer down early and often through the early rounds of the playoffs. Not even giving their opponent a chance to breathe, the Spurs would force their opponent into submission. That’s how dominant San Antonio has been. But in the blink of a heeled calf, the Spurs are now stuck in a universe that has the Thunder believing that not only history could repeat itself, but it certainly will.

A return home is a welcome sight for the Spurs. After humiliating the Thunder in the first two games, no one would have ever envisioned the series now being tied at two games apiece. Although Chesapeake Energy Arena has spelled doom for San Antonio, the Spurs can rely on home-court advantage the rest of the way. Right now, the Thunder have all the momentum. Right now, the Thunder resemble the team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but the reality is that two of the potential three remaining games will be played in San Antonio.

Therefore, the Thunder are going to have to pry home-court away from the Spurs in order to complete their comeback. A task that seemed daunting and almost impossible two games ago now has a realistic chance of actually happening. Especially, if Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combine for 87 points when factoring in their scoring and assists, as opposed to the 44 points the Spurs’ starters combined for in Game 4.

This best-of-seven series has suddenly been transformed into a best-of-three. All the Spurs can do is control how they play in Game 5. There’s no doubt San Antonio is facing an uphill battle, even with the fate of this series still in their hands. The Spurs performances on their home-court throughout these playoffs are ones that would even make the “Dream Team” jealous.

But this time around, the Spurs aren’t getting the same Thunder team that were beaten and bruised in Games 1 and 2. The Spurs are getting a much more dangerous and complete team – one in which they suddenly have no answer for. We all know when this series changed, and when the tide turned. A forecast, which once called for clear skies Thursday night in San Antonio, is now calling for Thunder.

As Game 5 will be the last home game of the season at the AT&T Center because this series is now ending in 6.

My Pick: Thunder +5  Bet these odds now!

May 29, 2014 by : Posted in Picks and Predictions No Comments
Adam Rosen

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Adam Rosen is a seasoned sports writer with special interests in Pro Football and Basketball. He has been picking sports games against the spread for years, and has posted a 56% win rate over his last 75 predictions.

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