For the second and last time this season, the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers will be going at one another.
The Nets lost to Los Angeles in their first meeting at the Barclays Center, 105-100. But it’s worth noting that they’ll be entering this matchup having won their last two games versus Phoenix and Utah—both on the road. The Clippers, meanwhile, have split their last four games at Staples Center and are fresh off a resounding victory against the Kings on Friday night.
[sc:NBA250 ]Who will emerge triumphant in this one? Will the Nets stay hot? Or will the Clippers continue their mastery over Brooklyn? Let’s read on below for a detailed breakdown of this promising showdown. And if you’re into college basketball as well, click here for our preview of the Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns.
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: Monday, February 29, 2016, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Brooklyn Nets (+13) at Los Angeles Clippers (-13); total: 208.5– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast:PRIME, YES
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets (17-42)
[sc:NBA250 ]Joe Johnson’s gone, but the Brooklyn Nets have been winning. They are 2-0 ever since his departure and will now have the opportunity to notch three wins in a row for the first time this season opposite the Los Angeles Clippers.
Expect Bojan Bogdanovic to continue making the most out of his increased playing time. He’s averaging 16.0 points in the last two games, including a 24-point outburst in their win over Phoenix on Thursday night. Bogdanovic also had a solid outing in the first meeting with the Clippers, finishing with 15 points and six boards while shooting 4-of-10 from the floor.
However, it’s too early to say that Bogdanovic’s recent surge will remain consistent. That said, the Nets’ offense shall continue to focus on Thaddeus Young (15.1 PPG) and Brook Lopez (20.4 PPG), who are both the team’s top-point getters this season.
Young has been making his presence known in both sides of the court, contributing 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals in the previous three games. Lopez, meanwhile, has been even more phenomenal lately as he’s putting up 23.2 points with 8.0 boards in his past five games. That stretch includes his double-double output (36 points, 10 rebounds) in a loss to Portland last Tuesday.
Ultimately, defense will dictate the fate of Lopez and co. in this one. And unfortunately, things aren’t looking good for them as the Nets are allowing 104.2 points on the road this season.
Brooklyn is 5-5 SU and 8-2 ATS in its previous 10 meetings with the Clippers.
Okay, Chris Paul can still do it all, folks. The nine-time All-Star proved this when he led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 117-107 road win over the Kings on Friday night.
Paul, who is averaging 19.8 points and 9.5 assists, erupted for a season-high 40 points, three points away from his career-best, and added 13 assists with eight rebounds to lead their attack. That game marked his 26th double-double of the season and allowed the Clippers to improve to 38-20 overall, which is good for fourth-best in the Western Conference.
Now, Paul and co. will look to impose their will once more when they open up a three-game home stand against the Brooklyn Nets tonight. And as always, the Clippers, who are racking up 105.0 points per contest, won’t waste any time in lighting up the scoreboard opposite a shaky Brooklyn defense.
Paul should be able to find a lot of opportunities for the pair of J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford. Both are scoring double-digits this season and are deadly long-range bombers. Redick, in particular, has been the most lethal one, as he’s shooting 48.0 percent from three-point territory, the second-highest in the league.
Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan is bound to have a feast in the paint versus a Nets team that’s only garnering 49.7 rebounds. Jordan is tallying 12.1 points and 14.1 rebounds across 56 games. He also had 12 points and 12 boards in their last meeting with Brooklyn.
Los Angeles is 6-4 SU and ATS in its past 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Clippers (-13) start strong and then play sloppy down the stretch. But they still get the win, 109-101.
