Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder

AT&T Center - San Antonio, Texas
Date: 4/12/16, Time: 7:00 PM Spurs Time
TV: TNT  - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

You could make dumber bets than taking a flyer on the forgotten, 20-to-1 Oklahoma City Thunder to crash the Spurs-Warriors star-crossed Western Conference finals matchup and beat a Cavaliers team that still has questions to answer. They do, after all, have two of the league's brightest stars and role players that have gained confidence throughout the year.

Of course you'd also be putting your money on a team that's lost four of its last six and still hasn't solved a few glaring issues. The shooting guard position for them is a black hole of offense; they're still giving minutes to Kyle Singler; a full Thunder squad appeared to struggle against a gutted Spurs team (at least for a half); Russell Westbrook, for all his triple doubles, has not shown the defensive focus you'd want out of a leader, and they're playing in the same conference as two historically-great teams.

OKC comes into the AT&T Center with the 3 seed almost locked up, meaning it'll likely be these two teams meeting again in the second round. There might not be too much for the Spurs to learn from tonight's matchup, but the Thunder will want to see what they can do to get their two stars going on offense and if their bigs can be more disruptive on defense.

The Thunder have beaten the Spurs in two of their three meetings this season, but it still feels like a healthy San Antonio has the advantage. Aldridge has gotten the better of Ibaka in their matchups and SA hasn't made life easy for Durant and Westbrook. OKC will be coming into San Antonio on a SEGABABA, which won't matter much fatigue-wise (they fleeced the Lakers), but travel can still take its toll.

Boris Diaw will likely be a game-time decision tonight, and it would make sense for him to test out his adductor (wherever that is) either against the Thunder or tomorrow against the Mavericks. I'll be a little worried if he's not good to go for either contest.

I don't believe in mojo, but I also do, and I think the Spurs will want to get a bit back as they get ready for the playoffs. With a SEGABABA in Dallas looming, a solid home win by dictating pace and winning the bench battle seems more likely than not.

Matchup to watch: The Spurs have done an excellent job slowing down Westbrook and Durant this year, and tonight will be another chance for OKC to try and spring both free against Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Also: will the increased backcourt production of Cameron Payne and Randy Foye be enough of a threat to tilt things a bit more in the Thunder's favor?

Game prediction: Spurs by 6.

For the Thunder fans' perspective, visit Welcome to Loud City.

As always Tony must dominate Fisher.