The LA Clippers visit their division rivals Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles heads to this game having lost its last three games and just 5-5 SU in their last 10 overall. The Clippers are 16-15 SU on the season and they are in third place in the Pacific Division team standings and sixth in the Western Conference playoff ladder. In their last game, the Clippers were blown out of Staples Center by the San Antonio Spurs 116-92 behind a triple-double effort by Dejounte Murray.
Sacramento returns home after losing to the Golden State Warriors 113-98 at Chase Center last Monday. The Kings are 2-5 SU in their last seven games played and they have a record of 13-19 on the season. The Kings are last in the Pacific Division and are 10th in the current Western Conference playoff picture. Sacramento is just 7-9 SU in 16 home games played this season.
These teams have played twice already this season and the Kings have won both meetings. The Kings won on December 1st, beating the Clippers 124-115 at Staples Center. Sacramento repeated at home on December 4th, defeating the Clippers 104-99.
Paul George had another outstanding night on both ends of the floor as he scored 25 points with six rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 31 minutes of action. Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 12 points and 12rebounds but Reggie Jackson shot just 4-12 from the field and finished with 10 points. Terance Mann was the only other Clipper in double-digit scoring with 11 points.
The Clippers are ranked 25th in the league in scoring at 105.5 points per game this season. They are 23rd in rebounding at 43.9 boards grabbed per contest and are tied for 18th passing at 22.9 assists per contest. Los Angeles has the league’s 8th best scoring defense at 105.3 points per game allowed.
Playing without six players including De’Aaron Fox, the Sacrament Kings leaned on Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield for offense against the Warriors. Haliburton scored a team-high 24 points along with 11 assists and 4 rebounds while Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield added 19 and 18, respectively in the losing effort. Chimezie Metu also contributed 16 points and 6 boards for the Kings’ cause.
The Kings rank 6th in the league in scoring at 110.8 points per game this season. Sacramento is 16th in rebounding at 44.8 boards grabbed per contest and is 24th in passing at 22.3 assists per game. The Kings are next to the bottom in scoring defense at 114.3 points per game allowed this season.
The Clippers are 1-3 SU in their last four games played. Los Angeles is 4-7 SU in 11 road games played this season. Sacramento is 2-5 SU in their last seven games played. The Kings are 4-1 SU in their last four home games and 8-2 SU in their last 10 Wednesday games.
Head to head, these teams have split their last 10 meetings but the Kings have won each of the last three encounters.
The Clippers are struggling right now with three straight losses which match their longest losing streak of the season. But with Paul George playing his second game back after missing five consecutive games, LA should be fine here.
Sacramento played their last game without six players including starters De’Aaron Fox and Richaun Holmes who are out due to COVID-19. Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield have stepped up but the Kings are going to be short of firepower here.
The Clippers haven’t been the best offensive team in the NBA this season but with the Kings ranking next to last in scoring defense, they shouldn’t find too much trouble scoring the ball here. Give me the Clippers to beat the Kings with good offense and better defense.
Prediction: LA Clippers
The Clippers are 20-5 ATS in their last seven games after a straight-up loss. LA is 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games against an opponent with a losing home record, 3-8 ATS in their last seven games after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game, 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games when their opponent allows 100 or more points in their previous game, 2-8 in their last 10 games against an opponent with a losing straight up record, 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games, and 1-4 ATS in their last five games played overall.
The Kings are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played overall. Sacramento is 2-5 ATS in their last seven December games played, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games after allowing 100 or more points in their previous game, 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games when playing on one day rest, 0-6 ATS in their last six games against an opponent with a winning straight up record, and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine home games against an opponent with a road winning percentage below .500.
Head to head, the Clippers have covered the betting spread in five out of their last six meetings in Sacramento.
The Kings are in a tough spot here. Paul George is back and playing his second straight game after missing five in a row. George had a good first game back with 25 points and should be better here. Reggie Jackson should be able to bounce back from a poor shooting game against a Kings team that is second to the last in scoring defense.
Sacramento is without De’Aaron Fox, Richaun Holmes, and several others. They don’t have the defense that can stop the Clippers from scoring points nor do they have the personnel to beat LA by outscoring them. In the end, the Kings’ COVID-19 issues are going to hurt them and help the Clippers cover this modest spread.
Prediction: Clippers -7
The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played by the Clippers. The under is 5-1 in Los Angeles last six games against the Western Conference, 6-0 in their last six games after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game, 4-0 in their last four games after an ATS loss, 4-0 in their last four road games against an opponent with a losing home record, 5-1 in their last six when their opponent allows 100 or more points in their previous game, and 10-3 in their last 13 after an ATS loss.
The Clippers are just 25th in the league in putting up points this season and are scoring just 106.4 points per game in their last 10 games played. The Kings meanwhile are without at least De’Aaron Fox’s 21.3 points per game. Sure, the Kings are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. However, the Clippers are in the Top 5 in scoring defense so that should balance out the equation.
These teams combined to score just a total of 203 points in their last meeting last December 4th. The Kings have scored 105 or fewer points in four out of their last six games while the Clippers have allowed 104 or fewer points in five out of their last eight games.
This should be a low-scoring affair with the personnel that the Kings missing. Look for the Clippers to use their defense to beat the Kings.
Prediction: Under 219.5
The San Diego Padres visit Chase Field as they open an NL West set against…
The Atlanta Hawks try again at the TD Garden on Tuesday night. The Hawks lost…
The Brooklyn Nets try again on Monday night. The Nets were outgunned 121-102 by the…
The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the St. Louis Cardinals for a four-game set beginning Thursday. The…
The Washington Nationals play the Los Angeles Angels in Game 2 of their three-game set…
The Los Angeles Dodgers will attempt to bounce back from a poor performance against Arizona…