The NBA returns Thursday night with two regular-season games from the ESPN World Wide of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., and the marquee matchup is a battle of Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET with the Lakers as 4-point favourites on the NBA odds over the Clippers.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lakers are the “home” team for this game in Orlando, and that slightly matters as the NBA is setting up these neutral courts like the “home” team each game really is playing in its own gym in terms of signs, the public address announcer, etc.

It’s obviously going to be incredibly difficult to handicap any NBA games in the early portion of the eight-game regular-season restart because guys are going to be rusty/out of shape and some teams are highly motivated the rest of the regular season and some aren’t. Injuries likely will be frequent with guys ramping up so soon after four months off. Then there’s the potential COVID-19 factor, although there was terrific news out of the bubble Wednesday when the NBA announced a second consecutive week of zero positive tests. It looks like this may work, unlike what baseball is trying.

Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers lead the season series 2-1 and this is the last game these teams will play until quite possibly the Western Conference Finals. The former Raptor Leonard is averaging 30.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the series.

The under is 4-1 in the past five meetings and the Clippers have covered their past six as the “road” team in this series – although they and the Lakers of course play in the same Staples Center in L.A.

The Lakers are -105 favourites to win the Western Conference and the Clippers +180.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers (44-20) have some motivation the rest of the regular season: Finishing second or third in the West. They aren’t catching the Lakers for the conference’s top seed but by finishing either second or third would avoid the Lakers until the West Finals. The Clips will be quite short-handed for this one as Lou Williams was caught recently outside the bubble at an Atlanta strip club and is still in quarantine. Montrezl Harrell is tending to a private matter and also out. Those two are the main reason the Clippers have the NBA’s best bench. Starting point guard Patrick Beverley is in question after recently returning to the bubble because he was dealing with a family matter.  Reggie Jackson, signed right before the shutdown, likely would start in his place.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers (49-14) have almost no motivation for the final eight games of the regular season as they have a 5.5-game lead over the Clippers for the West’s top seed. It would take a miracle for the Clippers to catch the Lakers. LeBron James’ club is also a bit short-handed. Guard Avery Bradley opted out of the season and backup point guard Rajon Rondo will miss about another month with a broken finger. Will star Anthony Davis play Thursday? He injured his eye in a scrimmage recently but did practice in full Wednesday and is planning to go. Davis is averaging 26.3 points and 7.3 rebounds vs. the Clippers. LeBron surely will play but don’t expect heavy minutes for him at all during the rest of the regular season.

Who Will Win Clippers vs. Lakers?

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Prob Thurs Calf - 19 / 08 / 20

Paul George (SF)

day-to-day Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

Landry Shamet (PG)

Ques Mon Foot - 11 / 08 / 20

Paul George (SF)

day-to-day Rest - 09 / 08 / 20

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Out indefinitely Calf - 04 / 08 / 20

Amir Coffey (SG)

Prob Sat Hip - 31 / 07 / 20

Lou Williams (SG)

Prob Tues Personal - 24 / 07 / 20

Patrick Beverley (PG)

Doub Thurs Personal - 21 / 07 / 20

Ivica Zubac (C)

Ques Thurs Illness - 21 / 07 / 20

Montrezl Harrell (PF)

Prob Mon Personal - 17 / 07 / 20

L.A. Lakers

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Prob Thurs	Calf - 19 / 08 / 20	6-6	4-6-2	+ -
Beverley has a left calf strain, but he is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Nuggets.
Paul George (SF)	day-to-day	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-7-2	+ -
George did not play the previous game as he was resting. It is unknown when he will return to the lineup.
Landry Shamet (PG)	Ques Mon	Foot - 11 / 08 / 20	8-7	6-7-2	+ -
Shamet has a sprained left foot, and it is uncertain if he will face the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Paul George (SF)	day-to-day	Rest - 09 / 08 / 20	9-7	7-7-2	+ -
George will not be in the lineup Sunday against the Nets, as he will receive the day off for rest.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 04 / 08 / 20	11-8	9-8-2	+ -
Beverley is sidelined with a left calf strain, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Amir Coffey (SG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 31 / 07 / 20	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Coffey is dealing with a left hip pointer, but he is expected to be available for Saturday's contest against the Pelicans.
Lou Williams (SG)	Prob Tues	Personal - 24 / 07 / 20	12-8	9-9-2	+ -
Williams has missed the last two games as he is following NBA protocol and self isolating. He is expected to be cleared to return for Tuesday's matchup with the Suns.
Patrick Beverley (PG)	Doub Thurs	Personal - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Beverley has returned to the team after an urgent family matter but is now self isolating. It is unlikely that he will line up against the Lakers on Thursday.
Ivica Zubac (C)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 21 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Zubac has rejoined the team after healing from a bout of COVID-19, but it is unclear if he will take the court Thursday versus the Lakers.
Montrezl Harrell (PF)	Prob Mon	Personal - 17 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Harrell is going through quarantine, but it is projected that he will take part in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Mavericks.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 11 / 10 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 05 / 10 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 03 / 10 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Finger - 26 / 09 / 20	2-4	4-3	+ -
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20	2-5	5-3	+ -
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 19 / 09 / 20	4-6	6-5	+ -
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.