Clippers vs. Lakers Point Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
The late game on Friday NBA schedule is a battle for Los Angeles bragging rights as the Clippers and Lakers square off – the court will be in purple & gold with the Lakers as the home team. Since the Clippers and Lakers began sharing Staples Center, the Clips have been largely treated like little brothers. Owner Steve Ballmer plans to change that by moving the team to Inglewood, which is where the Lakers used to play. However, the privately-financed new arena likely won’t open until 2024.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Somehow, this will be the first meeting of the season between the co-tenants and thus was supposed to be the Clippers’ first look at LeBron James in a Lakers uniform (more on that below). Sure, the Clippers were hoping to have a shot at signing James as a free agent, but he was only ever going to play for the marquee Los Angeles team. For a while there, the Clippers had the more star power with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan – i.e. Lob City – but they are all gone now.
This rivalry hasn’t been much of one for a while as the Clippers have shockingly taken 21 of the past 24 meetings. The average score in those games has been Clippers 111.8, Lakers 98.0.
The Clippers are 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings.
LA Clippers
The Clippers have followed a season-high four-game losing streak by winning three of four and have scored at least 125 points in all four. They prevailed 127-118 Wednesday at home over the Kings, although the Clips nearly blew a 27-point lead. They have the best bench in the NBA (sorry, Raptors fans) and that was on display again Wednesday as reserves Lou Williams (24) and Montrezl Harrell (22) led the team in scoring. Clippers reserves lead the NBA in scoring (bench players have totaled 24 20-point games), and Williams and Harrell would start for many teams. The Clippers have covered their past four against the West.
Los Angeles Lakers
Second of a back-to-back for the Lakers, although at least they didn’t have a long trip back to make coming from Sacramento. They lost Thursday 117-116 on a three-point buzzer-beater, blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, with James sitting out. It’s expected that LeBron misses a second straight game at least after he left the stunning Christmas Day upset in Golden State with a groin injury that would have rocked the NBA to its core had it been serious. James didn’t even make the trip to Sacramento, and the Lakers obviously are going to be overly cautious. Last year was the first in his Hall of Fame career that LeBron played all 82 regular-season games. Rajon Rondo also missed Thursday with a finger sprain and is questionable. Ditto JaVale McGee, who has missed the past six with an illness.
