Lakers vs. Clippers Free NBA Picks: How to Bet the Battle of LA (Archive)
The Los Angeles Clippers “host” the Lakers on Thursday night in their final meeting of the season as the Clips try for the four-game sweep. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Thursday, March 03, 2022 – 10:00 PM EST at Crypto.com Arena
TNT has a national TV doubleheader on Thursday night in the NBA with Grizzlies vs. Celtics the first matchup and Lakers vs. Clippers the late game. In fact, this is the only game that tips after 8:30 PM EST on Thursday so it should do pretty good betting action at BMR’s top-rated books.
It might be hard to believe considering the Clippers haven’t had superstar Kawhi Leonard all season and have not had Paul George for a large chunk of it, but they go for the four-game season sweep of their Big Brother. All were decided by four points or fewer, however.
They last played on February 22nd and the Clips won 105-102 by outscoring the Lakers by nine in the fourth. Terance Mann had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way. LeBron James had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Carmelo Anthony 18 points, but Anthony missed a long go-ahead jumper with four seconds left and LeBron a tying three-pointer as time expired.
The Clippers have won six straight in the series. Of course, they share Crypto.com Arena (for a few more years anyway). The Clips are the home team Thursday and thus the floor will be their colors, etc. The Lakers have covered the NBA betting spread in just one of the past seven meetings.
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Lakers Are Broken
Folks, it’s time to consider that a team with future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Anthony Davis (he remains out injured and may not make it back by the end of the regular season), and Russell Westbrook could miss the Western Conference play-in tournament entirely.
Do I think that happens? No, but the Lakers (27-34), sitting ninth, are only 2.5 games ahead of the No. 11 spot in the West. They are given an Over/Under seed of 10.5, with the Under a big -330 favorite on the NBA odds, so clearly oddsmakers expect the Lakers to at least finish 10th and earn that final playoff spot.
LeBron and Co. were embarrassed yet again Tuesday in losing their third straight game, all at home, 109-104 to Dallas. No shame in losing to the Mavericks, but Los Angeles was up 100-94 with seven minutes left. It’s really the same story every night. LeBron does his part (26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists) and gets no help with Davis sidelined. Russell Westbrook was 5-for-19 from the field. Fellow starters Malik Monk (5-for-14) and Austin Reaves (1-for-6) were a combined 6-for-20. The Lakers have lost 10 of 13 overall.
"We still have games to play," James said after Tuesday’s loss. "Until you stomp me out, cut my head off, bury me 12 feet under, then I got a chance. So that's my confidence."
It’s now almost a certainty that Westbrook will be traded this offseason, but good luck finding a taker. No question that Coach Frank Vogel will be fired.
There may be some help on the way as recently signed D.J. Augustin and Wenyen Gabriel will be available to play against the Clippers. Gabriel probably won’t be a factor, but Augustin could start taking minutes from Westbrook down the stretch.
Guard Avery Bradley missed his fourth straight game Tuesday with a right knee issue and is questionable Thursday. He doesn’t offer much but defense. LeBron is questionable too, but don’t even worry about that. He’s always listed that way.
The Lakers are 1-4 ATS on the NBA picks in their past five playing on one day of rest.
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Clippers Are Overachieving
That the Clippers (33-31) are eighth in the West is pretty remarkable considering they haven’t had Kawhi Leonard at all this season and Paul George for only 26 games. George still might make it back this year. Trade acquisition Norman Powell lasted three games with the Clippers before going down with a broken foot. The Clippers could be quite well next season with those three good young pieces like Terance Mann and Brandon Boston.
The Clippers have won four straight, but that’s hugely misleading: Three games were against tanking/atrocious Houston and one against these sputtering Lakers. Former Lakers center Ivica Zubac had maybe his best game of the season Tuesday in a 113-100 win in Houston with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Mann had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
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While you wouldn’t think leading after the first quarter would matter that much in the NBA, the Clippers are now 18-8 this season when they do and 15-22 when they trail after one. When they lead after the third, they are 25-4 compared to 8-26 when not. That makes more sense. When the Clippers are the first team to 100 points in a game, they are 23-2 – including 16-0 at home.
The Clippers are hoping to reach the No. 6 seed in the West and avoid the play-in tournament, but that’s unlikely with Los Angeles 4.5 games behind current No. 6 Denver.
“You keep trying to play, keep trying to get to that sixth seed,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “It’s going to be tough for us, but we got to continue to keep grinding so we don’t have to be in the play-in situation.” Of course, Lue was once LeBron James’ coach in Cleveland.
The Clippers are 6-1 ATS on the NBA odds in their past seven. They are not as talented overall as the Lakers but a better “team.” Simulations I have run have the Clips winning by 4.
NBA Pick: Clippers -2.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.