The Los Angeles Clippers are racking up wins since Blake Griffin’s return. Continuing to do so may be difficult this time around when they welcome heated rivals, the Golden State Warriors to Staples Center. Can Griffin and co. hand the Warriors a rare defeat? Read on as we break down this exciting Western clash.
Craving for more hard court action? Check out our complete preview for the Spurs vs. Heat game tonight.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
When: Tuesday, March 31, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
Don’t look now but the Golden State Warriors are hotter than ever. Following their 108-95 win over Milwaukee on Saturday, the Dubs have set a franchise-record for wins (60) in a season.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Splash Brothers were fantastic against the Bucks. Stephen Curry scored 25 on 8-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-9 from deep to lead the Dubs in scoring. He was also an excellent facilitator, finishing with six assists. Klay Thompson had 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting (3-of-8 from downtown).
Curry and Thompson are invaluable to Golden State’s offense. They score 46.4 of the Dubs’ league-leading 109.8 points per game. But they can have their off days. The duo combined for 29 points in their last visit to the Clippers as they went a combined 3-of-15 from three-point range.
The three-ball is an important aspect of Golden State’s game. The Dubs average 10.7 threes per game this season, second in the league. Aside from the Splash Brothers, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala bury at least one from downtown per game. Among the three, Barnes has the hottest hand, shooting 43 percent from deep.
Golden State can also dominate inside, which would be crucial against the Clippers’ excellent frontcourt. Andrew Bogut is the Dubs’ go-to big man, pulling down 8.4 rebounds per game in March. While he may not score a ton (scoring just six points per game this season), he’s a decent passer dishing out 3.4 assists over his last five contests.
Golden State has gone 8-1 against the spread over its nine-game win streak.
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
It’s been a warm welcome for Blake Griffin. The Clippers took a 100-98 loss in Griffin’s return against Houston. Since then they’ve racked up seven straight wins heading into this crucial showdown against Pacific Division rival, Golden State. Their recent triumph—a dominant 119-106 decision over the Boston Celtics.
J.J. Redick torched Boston for 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including going an excellent 5-for-6 from three-point range. He’s averaging 22.7 points per game in the Clippers’ win streak. More importantly, he gives Los Angeles a threat from downtown to match Golden State’s three-pointers. Redick is making an average of 3.4 three-pointers on 52 percent shooting over the past seven games.
Matt Barnes has also been hot from downtown, nailing 2.8 three-pointers per game on 37 percent shooting in his last five.
What should help clinch this game for Los Angeles is its dominant frontcourt duo of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Griffin is averaging 18.3 points per game in the Clippers’ win streak while pulling down 7.4 rebounds per game. Jordan has been a double-double machine with 12.3 points and 16 rebounds per game. The Clippers have outrebounded Golden State in two of their three games thus far this season.
The Clippers have won seven of their last eight at home against Golden State, going 6-2 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
The Clippers snap Golden State’s win streak. Create a betting account now and start your own win streak betting on the NBA.
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