The NBA is headed back to the City of Angels on Thursday night with the Clippers hosting the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.  Both teams still sit in a play-in tournament spot, but they’re trending in opposite directions.  The Clippers have won four straight games, including a 113-110 dub in Houston on Tuesday.  The Lakers, on the other hand, dropped their third in a row, 109-104 to Dallas at home on Tuesday.

The Clippers are 2.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 221.0.

Lakers vs. Clippers NBA Betting Odds

This is the fourth and final regular season meeting between these teams.  The total went Over in the first two games and Under in the third.  It’s been all Clippers over the last two years.  They’ve won six straight games against the Lakers and covered in six of the last seven games between these teams.

Things continue to spiral for the Lakers and they enter Thursday with losses in six straight road games and six of their last seven overall.  With such a small spread it is worth noting, however, that five of their last six games have been decided by five points or less.  They’re 25-36 against the spread overall.  The total has gone Under in five of the Lakers last six games.

The Clippers are trending upward with six wins and covers in their last seven games.  They’re an even 32-32 ATS overall, including 14-17 ATS at home.  The total has gone Under in four of the Clips’ last five games.

Los Angeles Lakers

It looked like the Lakers were going to pull off the improbable comeback after erasing a 15-point halftime deficit against Dallas, but the bid fell short and they dropped a third straight game.  LeBron James led all scorers with 26 points and 12 rebounds and Carmelo Anthony added 20 points off the bench, but Russell Westbrook‘s poor performance hurt the team.  Westbrook missed 12 of his 17 shots attempts, including all four of his 3-point attempts, and finished the night with just 12 points.

The Lakers are relying too heavily on James, who is third in NBA scoring with 28.9 points per game.  A lot of that comes down to the health of Anthony Davis, who is expected to be out another four to five weeks with a right foot sprain.  Davis averages 23.8 ppg and a team-best 9.7 rebounds, but he has missed 24 games this season due to various injuries, with the Lakers going 10-14 without him in the lineup.  Avery Bradley is listed as questionable to play after missing the last four games with a knee injury.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are 6-1 SU and ATS over their last seven games, picking up outright upset wins over the Warriors, Mavericks and Lakers during that stretch.  Ivica Zubac led the way against Houston, finishing with a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds.  Marcus Morris Sr. scored 18 points and Reggie Jackson added 17.  The Clippers put up 40 points in the third quarter to take a 14-point lead into the fourth.  Zubac, Morris and Jackson all sat out the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

With Kawhi Leonard (knee), Paul George (elbow) and Norman Powell (foot) all out of the lineup indefinitely, the team has been relying more heavily on their depth players and defensive play.  Jackson (16.7 ppg) and Morris (16.0 ppg) are the highest scoring players left on the roster, while the Clippers have held opponents to 102.1 ppg over the last seven contests.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Clippers?

• Regular Season

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

LAC

Points	Paul George 24.32
Assists	Paul George 5.68
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 8.47
FG%	Isaiah Hartenstein 62.6
Steals	Paul George 2.16
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.22

• Regular Season

Clippers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 30.27
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.05
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 9.85
FG%	Jemerrio Jones 66.7
Steals	Sekou Doumbouya 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.25

LAC

Points	Paul George 24.32
Assists	Paul George 5.68
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 8.47
FG%	Isaiah Hartenstein 62.6
Steals	Paul George 2.16
Blocks	Robert Covington 1.22

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

day-to-day Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Dwight Howard (C)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Out Sun Illness - 07 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Out Sun Foot - 06 / 04 / 22

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Out Sun Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 04 / 22

Carmelo Anthony (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 22

Wenyen Gabriel (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22

L.A. Clippers

Paul George (SF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 15 / 04 / 22

Luke Kennard (SG)

Out Fri Hamstring - 11 / 04 / 22

Paul George (SF)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Nicolas Batum (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Norman Powell (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 10 / 04 / 22

Luke Kennard (SG)

Prob Sat Hamstring - 06 / 04 / 22

Nicolas Batum (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 02 / 04 / 22

Paul George (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 01 / 04 / 22

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker exited Sunday's game with a left ankle sprain, and he will not return.
Dwight Howard (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Howard will not take the court for Sunday's contest versus the Nuggets as he will be given a day of rest.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Out Sun	Illness - 07 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Anthony has been absent from the lineup during the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness, and he will not play Sunday versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Out Sun	Foot - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis has been held out of the previous two games with a right mid-foot sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Westbrook has missed his second-straight game with a sore right shoulder, and he will not be active against the Nuggets on Sunday.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 04 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Tuesday's clash versus the Suns.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 22	2-3	2-3	+ -
Gabriel is tending to a left ankle sprain, but he is projected to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 04 / 22	3-3	3-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right mid-foot sprain, but it is projected that he will line up for Sunday's clash versus the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Anthony missed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, but it is expected that he will suit up Sunday against the Nuggets.
Wenyen Gabriel (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 01 / 04 / 22	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gabriel is dealing with a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Friday's matchup with the Pelicans.

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Paul George (SF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 15 / 04 / 22	0-0	0-0	+ -
George has been added to the league's health and safety protocols, and it is unknown when he will return.
Luke Kennard (SG)	Out Fri	Hamstring - 11 / 04 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Kennard is nursing a sore right hamstring, and he will not be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference Play-In versus the Pelicans.
Paul George (SF)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
George will not take the court for Sunday's matchup with the Thunder as he will be given a day of rest.
Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Morris Sr. will not be active for Sunday's clash with the Thunder as he will receive a day of rest.
Nicolas Batum (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Batum is battling left ankle soreness, but it is expected that he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference Play-In against the Timberwolves.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Jackson has been assigned a day of rest and will not suit up against the Thunder on Sunday.
Norman Powell (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 10 / 04 / 22	2-1	1-2	+ -
Powell will not dress for Sunday's game with the Thunder as he will be handed a day of rest.
Luke Kennard (SG)	Prob Sat	Hamstring - 06 / 04 / 22	3-1	1-3	+ -
Kennard missed the previous game with a sore hamstring, but it is projected that he will face the Kings on Saturday.
Nicolas Batum (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 02 / 04 / 22	4-1	2-3	+ -
Batum is hindered by left ankle soreness, but he is likely to lace up for Sunday's clash with the Pelicans.
Paul George (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 01 / 04 / 22	4-2	3-3	+ -
George will not dress for Friday's clash with the Bucks as he will be given a day of rest.