In the second game of a doubleheader on ESPN today, the Lakers and Clippers will meet for the final time with playoff implications on the line. The Clippers lead the season series (3-0) over the Lakers but haven't played each other since Jan. 24. There have been a lot of changes on both teams since they last played, including Russell Westbrook swapping locker rooms.
The Lakers (41-38) are currently on a four-game winning streak, moving up the West's No. 7 seed. A win tonight will jump them ahead of the Clippers and Golden State in the standings.
As for the Clippers (41-38), they return home after losing two-straight games on the road against the Grizzlies and Pelicans. In their loss to the Pels, Kawhi Leonard led the way with a game-high 40 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Meanwhile, Westbrook pitched in with a double-double consisting of 24 points and 10 assists. The Clippers will hope for a better performance from a bench unit that scored just 21 points last weekend against New Orleans.
Can the Lakers continue to move up the Western Conference standings, or will the Clippers rebound with a win and keep the Lakers in the play-in? Below, we'll break down this battle for L.A. while giving our prediction and best bets for basketball fans looking to win some cash.
Lakers vs. Clippers odds, picks, predictions
- Line: Lakers +3.0 ($1.90); Clippers -3.5 ($1.90)
- Over/Under: 230.5
- Head to head: Lakers $2.30; Clippers $1.65
The Clippers have dominated the Lakers through their first three meetings this season, winning by an average of 12.3 points per game. However, this is not the same Lakers' team that the Clippers saw in January, as the purple and gold are 14-6 since the All-Star break. They have maintained their high level of play despite not having D'Angelo Russell and LeBron James at various points due to injury. The good news for the Lakers is Anthony Davis has excelled down the stretch, averaging 27.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his past 18 games.
If Davis continues to play at a high level, the Lakers are legit threats in the West. They're 14-17-1 against the spread as road underdogs this season, but they are 11-8-1 ATS when the spread was between +2.5 and +5.5. Additionally, the Lakers are 12-7-1 ATS since returning from the All-Star break.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have been a middle-of-the-road team since losing Paul George to a knee injury on March 21, going 3-3 straight up and 3-3 ATS in their past six games. Moreover, they are 1-2 ATS when listed as a favorite in that span.
The Lakers will need to continue to bring their A-game on the defensive end, as they are allowing 115.7 points per game in their past four games. However, we know also that the Clippers are a solid defense team (112.9 points per game allowed) and have the 16th-ranked DRtg (114.4). Instead of taking a side, we will take the UNDER on the total, which has hit twice in the Lakers-Clippers' first three meetings.
Best Bet: UNDER 231.5
Best player prop bet for Lakers vs. Clippers: LeBron James to have a double-double ($2.30)
If the Lakers are without D'Angelo Russell (left foot), who did not play in Wednesday's game against the Jazz, they will need a Herculean effort from James.
Since returning from a foot injury, James is averaging 23.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game (five games). During that five-game span, the All-Star forward has produced a double-double against the Wolves (18 points and 10 rebounds) and a triple-double against the Rockets (18 points, 11 assists, and 10 points). This season against the Clippers, James is averaging 32 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, so we like the plus-money value on this wager.
