The Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets meet for the fourth and final time this season in a game that could still have serious ramifications at the top of the Western Conference playoff picture. In San Antonio, the streaking Spurs could have a shot at making history against Anthony Davis and the Pelicans.
[sc:MarchMadness ]
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets (Saturday, March 29, 8:00 PM ET)
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers remedied their recent road hiccups by defeating the Dallas Mavericks, 109-103. The Clips had lost their last two road games to non-playoff teams in the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans.
Chris Paul recovered from a dreadful 2 point, 0-12 shooting night in New Orleans to put up 31 points on 9-18 shooting with four 3-pointers against the Mavs. Blake Griffin scored 18 but failed to break 20 points for the first time since early January.
The Clippers will be going for a sweep of the Rockets in the season series. LA won by 13 in Houston back in November.
Betting on the Houston Rockets
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Houston Rockets won their fifth straight game by handing the Philadelphia 76ers a record-tying 26th straight loss. The comfortable 120-98 win covered the 19.5-point spread and launched the Rockets to 11-0 SU/8-3 ATS in their last 11 home games.
James Harden recorded his first triple double of the season, with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just three quarters of play. Harden is ending the month strong by averaging over 30 points per game in his last four games.
However, the All-Star guard has struggled mightily against the Clippers this season. He’s averaging just 15 points while shooting just 10% from beyond the arc and 34% overall in three games this season.
Prediction
The numbers say that the Clippers may just have the Rockets’ number this season, and we tend to agree. The Clippers cover on the road in Houston.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs (Saturday, March 29, 8:30 PM ET)
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans
With their postseason hopes gone, the Pelicans are now playing the role of spoilers. New Orleans has won four games in a row – all against likely playoff teams – and covered all four as underdogs. In that stretch, the Pelicans took down the defending champion Heat and the No. 3 seed Clippers at home.
All-Star Anthony Davis has been outstanding in March, averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this month. But the Pelicans still found a way to beat the Clippers with Davis (just 5-19 from the field) struggling, as they outrebounded LA, 53-40.
Guards Brian Roberts and Eric Gordon are battling knee issues and may not feature against the Spurs, but Austin Rivers could make his return from illness.
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
Should they get past the Denver Nuggets again on Friday, the Spurs can tie their franchise-record with a 17th straight win against the Pelicans. San Antonio won its 15th straight against the Nuggets, 108-103, but the five-point win was the smallest margin of victory of the stretch and not enough to cover the 13.5 point spread.
Even with Davis manning the paint, Tony Parker is averaging 24 points on 55% shooting against the Pelicans in three meetings this season, one of his highest averages for any team. However, Parker could still be hampered by an Achilles injury that sidelined him recently.
The Spurs have won eleven straight games at home. Moreover, they are a dominant 18-2 SU in their last 20 home games vs. New Orleans, with their last loss coming in 2010.
Prediction
With the playoffs nearing, the Spurs may just take the foot off the gas, enough for an inspired Anthony Davis to sneak in a Pelicans cover in San Antonio.
