After letting one slip away against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, 113-107, the Los Angeles Clippers are looking to get back on the winning track by beating their hometown rivals the Los Angeles Lakers in a major Sunday afternoon tilt.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
When: Sunday, April 6, 2014, 3:30PM EST
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (+16) at Los Angeles Clippers (-16); total 226.0 – view these lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers
[sc:NBA240banner ]To say the Lakers have been in a slump would be putting it nicely. Since February 23, the Lakers are 6-14 and have allowed opponents to score 117.2 PPG on 49.8% shooting. Although Mike D’Antoni doesn’t emphasize it, he needs to make his guys concentrate on defense against the Clippers, the No.1 scoring team in the league (107 PPG).
Furthermore, multiple news outlets have reported that Pau Gasol (17.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.4 APG) will likely miss the rest of the season with vertigo symptoms. The Spaniard has missed 15 games for LA, with his team going 4-11 SU during that period.
The Lakers are 3-7 ATS against the Clippers in their last 10 meetings.
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
Despite their 113-107 loss to Dallas this week, the Clippers have still won 17 of their last 20 games, going 12-7-1 ATS. First-year head coach Doc Rivers has led his team to a 2-1 record vs. the Lakers so far as the Clippers have averaged 122.7 PPG, 53.3 RPG, and 28.3 APG against the Laker defense. Moreover, the total has gone over in nine of the last 10 meetings between the two.
More good news for “Lob City”: Blake Griffin, who had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against Dallas, seems to be back to 100% after injuring his back last week. The former No. 1 pick is also averaging 24 PPG, 10 RPG, and 4.7 APG against the Lakers this season, further strengthening his case for MVP consideration.
However, the Clippers aren’t a great defensive team, allowing about 100 PPG on a nightly basis. The Lakers have shown they can have high-scoring performances from time to time, which was the case when they beat Griffin and company on opening day, 116-103.
Prediction
The Clippers are looking like title contenders, while the Lakers are headed to the lottery. Take the Clippers to cover a huge 16-point spread.
