Warriors vs. Clippers NBA Picks and Predictions for Valentine’s Day (Archive)
The Los Angeles Clippers have been treading water all year and after announcing that their best player likely won’t play at all this season, is that a prelude to them raising the white flag tonight against the Golden State Warriors? Here is all you need to know for your NBA picks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Monday, February 14, 2022 – 10:30 PM EST at Crypto.com Arena
Clippers Crossroads
After making a great trade to bring in Robert Covington and Norman Powell, the Clippers were seemingly signaling to the rest of the league that they planned on making some noise in the NBA Playoffs.
Kawhi Leonard has been hurt all year and Paul George has been out for a while too, but if they could stay in the playoff hunt and get those guys back, the Clippers are as dangerous as any team in the West.
However, after announcing publicly that they don’t think Leonard will make a return to action this season, I’m wondering if the Clippers are set on playing out this season without George either and succumbing to whatever playoff (or lottery) spot they get.
Their next three games may tell us more about whether that theory is correct.
The Clippers start a three games in four nights stretch right before the All-Star break and considering they play again tomorrow, they may be extra careful with resting guys.
The Warriors on the other hand only have two games left before the break and while they too are being cautious with veterans Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, both of whom will miss tonight’s game, they need to keep pace with the Suns in the battle for the West.
That may lead to the Dubs tightening the screws on defense tonight, which will surely hurt an already hurting Clippers' offense.
VIDEO PICKS: Watch BMR's Free Expert Sports Betting Picks of the Day
The Sharp Pick
In two games against the Clippers this season, the Warriors have dominated on defense, holding LA to just 99.5 points per 100 possessions.
While the pace to those two games was pretty high, lately these two teams have begun to slow things down, especially the Warriors.
Over the first few months of the season, there were times when the Warriors were inside or just outside the top 10 teams in pace.
However, since January 1, the Warriors rank 15th in pace, playing at just 98.55 possessions per game.
This may be due to their outstanding third-quarter defense. The Warriors have played well this season when they grab a first-half lead and then clamp down on defense in the second half.
Golden State owns the league’s best third-quarter defense by a pretty big margin, allowing only 101.9 points per 100 possessions in the third quarter.
We’ve seen this in their first two meetings with the Clippers as well. Golden State held LA to 26 third-quarter points in both of their prior meetings way earlier in the season and that was with Paul George healthy both times.
Now, not only are they without George, but Powell is out for tonight’s game and Luke Kennard is questionable.
Considering the Dubs held LA to less than 50 second-half points in both those games when LA was healthier, I can’t see the Clippers getting above 105 points tonight, even in their home arena.
If the Warriors can excel on defense in this one, the under has a lot of good value at the NBA odds. Take it at one of BMR's top-rated sportsbooks.
NBA Pick: Under 221 (-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.