Clippers vs. 76ers Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
Two of the top teams from their respective conferences are slated to go head-to-head on Friday in Philadelphia. The East-leading 76ers will play host to the No. 3 team from the West, the L.A. Clippers. The Clips won the only other meeting between these teams this season, 122-112 in L.A. on March 27.
Philly is a 2-point favourite to win on the NBA odds with a total of 220.5
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Clippers have shifted into a higher gear as they prepare for the playoffs. L.A. is riding a seven-game winning streak and they’ve won five of their last six road games. They’re paying off pretty well this season, going 33-23-1 against the spread, but they’ve only covered in one of their last 10 games against the Sixers. The East Coast is a recipe for high scoring games for the Clips. L.A. has hit the Over in five of their last seven games against East teams.
Philadelphia is king of the Eastern Conference and it’s easy to see why. The 76ers are 21-5 at home and have won four of their last five games overall. They’re 30-22-3 ATS and have covered in five straight home games against the Clippers. Their strong defensive play has led them to go Under in five of their last six games overall.
Los Angeles Clippers
L.A. is getting it done on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they have the best 3-point (41.9 per cent) and free throw (84.1) percentages in the league and they’re also top-5 in points per game (115.1) and field goal percentage (48.5). Defensively, they’re top-10 in points per game allowed (108.2), 3-point percentage allowed (35.9) and total rebounds (41.0). Paul George has been a big part of this team. He’s averaging 23.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and also averages a team-high 5.5. assists. Marcus Morris has also chipped in with 13.1 points per game and shoots a team-high 47.6 per cent from beyond the arc.
Kawhi Leonard will always be the big name on this team. The Klaw is averaging 26 points (team-high), 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals (team-high) per game. Look for Leonard to have a big game. He’s nearly impossible to guard offensively and he can be suffocating defensively. Like we saw in Toronto’s 2019 championship season, this is the time of year Leonard kicks things into overdrive.
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid and the offence deservingly get a lot of credit on this team, but it can lead to their defence getting overshadowed. The Sixers lead the league in blocks per game (6.3) and are second in steals per game (8.9). They’re top-10 in every major statistical defensive category and most offensive categories as well. Philadelphia has seen a resurgence in Tobias Harris this year. Harris is averaging 20.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. If it wasn’t for Embiid, Harris would be leading Philly in most offensive categories.
After dealing with some injury issues, Embiid has put his name firmly back into MVP contention. Embiid is third in the NBA with 29.8 points per game and averages team-highs in rebounds (11.0) and blocks (1.5) per game. The Cameroonian big man will have his hands full matching up against L.A.’s Ivica Zubac, but Embiid has been dominating opposing centres in the paint all season.
LAC
PHI