The NBA’s best home team hosts one of the league’s most wounded visitors tonight in Oklahoma City. The Thunder, 24-2 and a perfect 12-0 at home, welcome the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers, who arrive on a four-game slide and a 6-20 record. Tip is set for 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT), and the final injury report at 12:30 PM confirms a tough reality for L.A.: James Harden is out with a calf issue, and Nicolas Batum is under the weather. For OKC, Williams (heel) is unlikely to suit up.

Oddsmakers have taken a clear stance. Oklahoma City is favored by 17.5 points with a total at 222.5. That spread underlines just how wide the gap is right now between the West-leading Thunder and a Clippers team still searching for rhythm on the road.

Final injury report: who’s in and who’s out

The last update paints a stark picture for Los Angeles. Harden’s absence removes a primary ball-handler and late-clock shot maker. As listed: “Harden is dealing due to a calf injury, and he will be out of the lineup against the Thunder on Thursday.” Batum’s status is up in the air: “Batum is ailing from illness, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Thunder on Thursday.”

On the Thunder’s side, the note is short but important: “Williams is nursing with a heel injury, and he is unlikely to dress against the Clippers on Thursday.” Even with that, OKC’s depth and form have kept them rolling at home all season.

“If Harden sits and OKC stays perfect at home, how do the Clippers keep up?”

What Harden’s absence means for the Clippers’ offense

Kawhi Leonard leads L.A. at 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, with Ivica Zubac contributing 19.5 points and 10.0 boards. Harden has been a key playmaker at 17.5 points and 6.5 assists (ESPN lists him at 26.0 points per game), and without him, the Clippers lose pace control and pick-and-roll creation.

This shifts more on-ball duty to Leonard and others. Expect higher usage for Kawhi, more post touches for Zubac, and extra ball-handling from the backcourt. If Batum can’t go, L.A. also loses a steady spacer and team defender. It’s a lot to replace against a top-tier defense that feeds off crowd energy at home.

OKC’s engine: SGA, Chet and a perfect home start

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the tone-setter, averaging 28.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He’s clinical in the mid-range, ruthless at the rim, and calm when games slow down. Chet Holmgren adds 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds with shooting range that stretches bigs out of the paint. Williams, when available, brings 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds as a strong two-way wing.

But it’s the balance and buy-in that define this 24-2 start. At 12-0 in their building, the Thunder overwhelm teams with pace, precision and timely stops. Even with Williams likely out, the core identity remains: downhill attacks from SGA, pick-and-pop gravity from Holmgren, and waves of athletic wings filling lanes.

“SGA’s mid-range is a cheat code right now. If he gets to his spots, lights out.”

Matchup keys: can L.A. manufacture enough points?

Without Harden, the Clippers need to win with structure. That means smart half-court sets, touches for Zubac, and cleaner catch-and-shoot chances for the wings. Leonard will need to be both scorer and organizer. The margin for error is tiny, especially against a defense that hunts turnovers and quick shots.

On the other end, L.A. must limit early offense and force the Thunder into late-clock looks. If the Clippers can keep OKC off the line and off the offensive glass, they allow themselves a chance to manage pace and hang around.

Odds, total and pace: what the numbers say

The spread at OKC -17.5 reflects the gulf in form: Thunder 24-2 with a spotless home mark versus Clippers 6-20 and 3-12 on the road. The total of 222.5 suggests moderate scoring, not a track meet. One model projection lists a quirky pace split—7.3 for the Thunder and 92.7 for the Clippers—hinting at a slower, grind-heavy feel for L.A. and a controlled rhythm for OKC.

If that holds, the game likely comes down to shot quality. The Thunder are excellent at generating clean looks from their stars and avoiding empty trips. For the Clippers, each possession will matter more without Harden’s late-clock creativity.

“Seventeen and a half? That’s huge. Either OKC blows it open early, or Kawhi turns it into a half-court fight.”

Players to watch and simple keys

• Kawhi Leonard (LAC): Can he carry the scoring load and still anchor the defense? His mid-post game must be efficient.
• Ivica Zubac (LAC): A chance to attack the paint and the glass. Second-chance points keep L.A. close.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): If he owns the mid-range and free-throw line, OKC controls tempo.
• Chet Holmgren (OKC): Stretch the floor on one end, protect the rim on the other. His versatility tilts matchups.

From a coaching view, it’s simple. The Clippers need to slow it down, defend without fouling, and win the possession game. The Thunder need to keep their pace, pressure the ball, and let SGA and Chet dictate where shots come from.

The bottom line

Everything about this setup favors the Thunder: the record, the home form, and the health picture. The Clippers, on a four-game skid, will have to lean on toughness and control. Without Harden, they must find points in the small margins—offensive rebounds, backcuts, and free throws—and hope Batum can give them minutes if he clears the illness tag.

If OKC plays to its standard, the unbeaten home run should hold. If the Clippers turn this into a slow, half-court battle and Kawhi is special, things get interesting. Either way, the final injury report points to a clear theme: Oklahoma City has the bodies and the momentum; Los Angeles needs a near-perfect night to flip the script.

We’ll see which story wins when the ball goes up at 8 ET.