San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
When: Thursday, December 22, 2016, 10:30 PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs (-1) at Los Angeles Clippers (+1); total: 205.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (-1)
The San Antonio Spurs pulled off another miracle on the road on Tuesday with a stunning 102-100 win over the Houston Rockets. Patty Mills drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 12.9 seconds left to snap the Rockets’ 10-game winning streak. It was an incredible victory by Gregg Popovich’s men who battled back from a 13-point deficit with less than 4 minutes, 30 seconds to play. According to ESPN, teams trailing by 13 points or more in that situation entering Tuesday owned a record of 1-1,388 over the past three seasons.
The Spurs will look to stretch their unbeaten run to six games when they lock horns with the LA Clippers this coming Thursday. Unfortunately for San Antonio, one of the heroes of their latest comeback win won’t play in this marquee clash. Manu Ginobili will be rested for the next two games on the Spurs’ current road trip. He played an integral role in the Spurs’ come-from-behind win against the Rockets, scoring nine of his 12 points in the final quarter.
With Ginobili out, the onus is on Danny Green to provide some offensive spark for the Spurs. After being held to single digits for eight consecutive games, Green finally broke through against Houston, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. This marked the first time in nine games that Green has hit four triples in a single game. Also expected to contribute tonight are LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard. Aldridge has scored at least 10 points in 23 of San Antonio’s 25 games this season. Leonard on the other hand, has been a beast for the five-time NBA champions, leading the team in scoring with a 23.9 PPG average.
The Spurs are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers (+1)
No Blake Griffin? No problem! The Clippers bucked the absence of their franchise power forward as they beat the Denver Nuggets, 119-102, in a one-sided showdown at Staples Center on Tuesday. Chris Paul stepped up big time in Griffin’s absence, recording 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Also doing his part in this critical victory was J.J. Redick. He scored 27 points on 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
Things are bound to get tougher, for the Clips as standing in their way in their next match are the red-hot San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have been unstoppable on the road this season, winning 15 of their 16 away games. With the Spurs’ victory against the Rockets, they equaled the best road record through the first 16 games in NBA history alongside the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
Regardless of that fact, the Clips will still fancy their chances against the Spurs as they have fared extremely well against them of late. LA thrashed San Antonio, 116-92, in their first meeting at AT&T Center this season. The Clippers erupted for 73 first-half points in that contest, the most allowed by a Spurs team in the Gregg Popovich era. The Clippers have also won each of their last two home games against the Spurs.
With Griffin sidelined, however, it’s going to take a total team effort for the Clips to take down the mighty Spurs. The pressure will be on DeAndre Jordan to hold the fort for the Clips’ frontline. He leads the Clippers in rebounding (13.0) and blocks (1.8) this season. Jordan recorded his 11th double-double in the win against Denver, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 boards.
The Clippers are 7-3 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Clippers (+1) edge past the Spurs, 102-99.
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