On Friday, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Houston Rockets cross each other’s path in what should be an intriguing matchup between two Western Conference superpowers. The Clippers are in a midst of a road trip, looking to win their third in a row. The Rockets, meanwhile, despite being wracked by injuries, are on a mini-win streak of their own.
Also on Friday, the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics square off in a meeting of a couple of floundering Eastern Conference teams. You can read a preview of that game here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
When: Friday, November 28, 8:00PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
Trailing by three heading into the third quarter, the Clippers knew that they needed a spark on offense if they were to record a road victory last night. Fortunately for them, Chris Paul took over in the third quarter scoring 14 points before Jamaal Crawford applied the finishing touches, scoring 14 as well in the final 12 minutes to lead the Clippers to a thrilling come-from-behind 104-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Clippers will now take a day of rest before playing the sixth of their lengthy seven-game road trip.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Clippers had a hard time on offense in the first half, shooting just 39.5% from the field, but thanks to Paul (23 points) and Jamaal Crawford (25 points) catching fire in the second half, the team was able to have liftoff on offense. The Clips scored 56 points in the second half with Paul and Crawford combining for 31 points. Crawford (17.6 PPG) is third in the team in scoring behind Blake Griffin (22.2 PPG) and Paul (18.6 PPG), which is saying a lot considering that he often comes off the bench.
The Clippers, who are ninth in the NBA in scoring (103.3 PPG), have scored an average of 106.4 PPG over their last six games . They may not have it as easy on offense, though, against the Rockets, who are best in the league when it comes to scoring defense (91.5 PPG).
DeAndre Jordan scored just four points against Detroit, but collected 11 rebounds and played great defensively. Clippers opponents score just 38.6 points per in the paint, which could be largely attributed to Jordan, who’s a terrific rim protector. Jordan is currently fifth in the NBA with 2.1 rejections per game. He had two blocks against Detroit.
The over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last five games.
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Betting on the Houston Rockets
The Rockets may be seeing a dip in their scoring this season but they could care less so long as they keep on winning. The Rockets won their third game in a row after a 102-89 demolition job of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday to improve their record to 12-3.
Houston is currently averaging 97.1 PPG, which is significantly fewer than their 107.7 mark last season. But what they may be losing on offense, the Rockets are making up for by playing a whole lot better on the defensive end. As mentioned above, the Rockets are No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, and that’s partly because of their tremendous ball pressure that often forces turnovers.
Houston’s opponents are turning the ball over 16.9 times per game, which the Rockets are efficiently converting into points. The Rockets are eighth in the league in turnover points (18.7) and fifth in fast break points (15.7). Curiously, the Rockets saw Sacramento commit 20 turnovers but only scored three points off those giveaways.
If the Rockets could prevent Los Angeles from hitting their scoring average, then they’ll be in the right position to win the game. The Clippers are 0-4 thus far this season when scoring under 100 points, so it’s likely that Houston will deliberately slow down the game’s pace.
Dwight Howard (knee) and Patrick Beverly (hamstring) remain questionable for Friday’s matchup with the Clippers. That would mean longer minutes for Tarik Black and Isaiah Canaan. Black is averaging just 4 PPG and 6 RPG in the last three games that Howard is out. Canaan, meanwhile, went off for 24 points (9-16 FG, 6-10 3FG ) as Beverley’s replacement in the starting lineup against Sacramento. Canaan should form a potent tandem with James Harden against the Clippers. Harden is the team’s leader in points (25.3 PPG), assists (6.7 APG), and in steals (1.8 SPG).
Writer’s Prediction
The Clippers win, 104-102.
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