It’s Chris Paul versus Paul George tonight, as the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers lock horns for the final time this season. The Pacers won the first meeting at Staples Center and will definitely be eyeing for a sweep in their regular-season series with the Clippers. Can George successfully lead them in doing so? Or will Paul and co. give them a taste of their own medicine?
[sc:NBA250 ]Let’s now take an in-depth look below at this blockbuster showdown. Meanwhile, you can check out our preview of the Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks as well.
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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Indiana Pacers Betting Preview
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
[sc:NBA250 ]The Los Angeles Clippers’ five-game road trip has been off to a rocky start, as they’ve lost two of the first three. The latest one happened on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, who beat them 112-94. Chris Paul put up 23 points along with 11 assists but those efforts unfortunately came to waste. He and the rest of the Clippers will look to test their chances against the Indiana Pacers this time around.
Key to their triumph will heavily depend on their defense, which is giving up more than hundred points in the last five games, on Paul George. They can’t allow George, who is the eighth-leading scorer (23.7 PPG) in the league right now, to get his groove going. He exploded for 31 points with 10 boards during their first meeting at Staples Center on December 2.
As for the offense, Paul needs to continue being more of a play-maker instead of a facilitator especially with Blake Griffin still out. The 30-year-old All-Star point guard is averaging 24.2 PPG and 11.2 APG in his past four outings. That stretch includes their game opposite Cleveland last Thursday night, during which Paul erupted for 30 points and had nine dimes. The Clippers lost that game though, 115-102.
Besides Paul, J.J. Redick could be due for a huge game later as he’s fared relatively well across 21 road games this season, posting 16.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG and 1.8 APG. But the same cannot be said in his encounters with the Pacers. Redick has been limited to 8.7 PPG throughout 23 career games in this matchup.
Los Angeles is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its previous 10 road games.
The Indiana Pacers head into this matchup hoping that a trip back home could finally stop the bleeding for them. They’ve lost six of their last eight games and have fallen short in their previous two. As a result, the Pacers dropped to third place in the Central Division with a 23-21 win-loss record. They’ll look to relocate their rhythm when the Los Angeles Clippers come to Bankers Life Fieldhouse tonight.
Paul George could go off again in this bout. He’s coming off a huge performance against the Kings on Saturday, wherein he tallied a team-high of 34 points on 9-of-20 shooting in a losing effort.
Furthermore, he can certainly gain some energy through the thunderous cheers of their home crowd. Across 19 home games, George is putting up solid numbers of 23.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG and 3.9 APG. But his efforts alone won’t be enough to capture the win, obviously.
That being said, the pressure is on the pair of Monta Ellis and George Hill to carry some of the scoring load. Both guards have proven to be deadly offensive threats this season, posting 13.9 PPG and 12.7 PPG respectively.
Over on defense, the Pacers will need to slow down the Clippers fast-paced offense that currently ranks fourth-best in the league in terms of points per game (104.7). Indiana is surrendering 100.2 PPG this year.
Indiana is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 home games.
