The San Antonio Spurs (34-19) sure could use a rest at this point of their schedule. In the midst of a lengthy nine-game road trip, the exhausted Spurs team will relish a long break as the NBA gives way to All-Star festivities. Once that’s over, though, they’ll face the Los Angeles Clippers (35-19) who are playing well despite the absence of Blake Griffin. Read more about this game below. You also see a full game preview of Dallas vs. Oklahoma City here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
When: Thursday, February 19, 2015, 10:30PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers — view all NBA lines
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs finished the season’s first half strong, going 4-1 in their last five games, including their 104-87 beatdown of the Detroit Pistons last February 11th.
[sc:NBA240banner ]San Antonio’s deep bench has been a big help for the team this season. Led by Manu Ginobili and Marco Belinelli, the Spurs are getting 40.3 PPG from their relievers, third most in the league. Expect the Spurs’ reserves to outplay their counterparts from Los Angeles, which only gets a much-fewer 30.9 PPG from its bench.
Ginobili, who put up 13 points against the Pistons, is averaging 12.0 PPG and 4.8 APG thus far this season. Belinelli, meanwhile, enters the Clippers game with a 9.8 PPG average on 44.1 percent shooting from the field.
As for the starters, Kawhi Leonard is having a three-game stretch of sub-par performances. He has scored 11 points or fewer in each of the Spurs’ last three games, including an eight-point output on a salty 2-for-12 shooting against the Pistons. Leonard, however, has had solid outings against the Clippers, averaging 25.0 PPG in two games played against LA this season—the Spurs won in both games. He didn’t play in the second meeting with the Clips—a 125-118 Spurs loss—as he was then dealing with a hand injury.
The under is 4-0 in the Spurs’ last four road games.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
It’s cool to be like Mike, but being like DeAndre isn’t too shabby these days, either.
With star forward and key big man Blake Griffin (staph infection) out for at least three weeks, DeAndre Jordan knew he needed to step up. And step up he did for the Clippers over the last two games, wherein he averaged eye-popping numbers of 23.0 PPG and 23.5 RPG. In the Clips’ 110-95 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Jordan was seemingly unstoppable, finishing with 24 points and 20 rebounds. Jordan has put up 7.7 PPG and grabbed 14.3 RPG in three games against the Spurs thus far this season.
Jordan would be an even bigger help for LA against the Spurs if he can improve his free throw shooting. The Clips went just 28-for-45 (62.2%) from the foul line against Houston, with Jordan making just 12 of his 26 attempts. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs play him rough defensively, knowing that he’s a bad free throw shooter.
As a team, the Clippers will have to tone down on their turnovers. They are second worst in the league in turnovers with 11.5 TO/G. Their inability to take care of the ball was a big reason why they lost twice to the Spurs earlier this season, as the Clips committed 15 turnovers in each of those losses. In their lone win thus far against San Antonio, the Clippers only had 11.
Shooting guard J.J. Redick should be a constant threat on offense versus the Spurs. The former Duke Blue Devil has averaged 17.5 PPG on a high 50 FG% in two games back since sitting the previous three outings due to back spasms.
The Clippers are 4-0 in their last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Los Angeles wins, 101-95.
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