Los Angeles Clippers vs San Antonio Spurs: Can be a high-scoring close battle

Ah, it is COVID-19 again frustrating fans, bookmakers, tipsters, and bettors alike. But then what can we do, just play with what is at our hands and as the NBA continues its flexible approach to avoid postponed games, we also wish the league continues to produce regular games. Anyway, in this game an injury and COVID-19 ridden Los Angeles Clippers team host the high-scoring and relatively healthier San Antonio Spurs team. The Clippers have been playing without Paul George for around ten days while the Spurs have won half of their last six games. Can the Spurs build some momentum here? To know about the prediction regarding “Total Points Range”, hop over to “Expert Betting Tips” and for a quick look, land to the “Notes” section. 

Depleted Clippers, up-and-down Spurs

How they have fared recently: Clippers have won three and lost two games without George, including just a one-point loss on the buzzer against the Thunder. With Marcus Morris out, the wing-big Forward position has been thinned down and George, who is listed as questionable, is needed by this team more than ever. On the other hand, the Spurs have followed this pattern: win, loss, win, loss, win, loss. Still, this is a team that has beaten Warriors once, has given hell of a fight to the Suns and snapped the eight-game winning streak of the Jazz this month. Spurs can’t be taken lightly but they are largely a work-in-progress under coach Gregg Popovich.

Offense-defense comparisons: Spurs are not a top-quality defensive team, in fact, the team leaks way too many points. They have given up 121 or more points in three out of the last four games. The squad engages in high-scoring tussles way too much and has itself scored in the 112 points or more in the last five games, including a 128 points effort against a tough Jazz team. The Spurs have multiple playmakers in Murray and White, while their scoring depth comes a lot from the guard position where Vassell and Lonnie Walker IV can also score in bunches off the bench. If Doug McDermott is out for the game, Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl are more than capable of picking the slack in the frontline positions.

Clippers have had trouble scoring without George and with Morris gone, they have lost another 20 points or so scorer. What does this mean? The team has scored 103 in the last two games but before that, they were lodging 111-113 points with Morris in the lineup. It implies that guards Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, and Reggie Jacksnon(if all are available) will have to ensure most of them lodge around 20 points to keep the offensive effort afloat. Ivica Zubac is due a big game and he needs to get around 15 or so in my opinion against the high-scoring Spurs. The team has held many teams to 95-104 points range recently but high-scoring squads like Jazz and Spurs can find ways to score 110 or more.

Notes

Here are the quick hitters related to the game:

• Clippers have scored 103, 103, 111, 106, 114 in the last five games;
• Clippers have conceded 104, 124, 95, 104, 111 in the last five games;
• Spurs have scored 114, 128, 115, 112, 112 in the last five games;
• Spurs have allowed 121, 126, 131, 97, 127 in the last five games;
• Clippers have lost the last two games but were on a four-game winning streak before the losses;
• Spurs have lost half of their last six games. They have won five and have lost nine games away from home;
• Reggie Jackson had largely scored in the 15-19 points range this month. He is due a big game. He has dished nine or more assists in each of the last two games;
• Dejounte Murray has dished nine to 11 assists a game in the last four games;
• Luke Kennard has scored 15 or more in four of the last five games;
• Derrick White has scored 13 or more in three of the last four games;
• Paul George is Questionable for the game, he hasn’t played in around ten days. Marcus Morris has been placed in the health & safety protocols as of now. Serge Ibaka is probable while Isaiah Hartenstein has been listed out for the Clippers;
• Doug Mcdermott has been listed as OUT for the San Antonio Spurs as of now;
• Check the injury reports before placing the stakes.

Expert Betting tips

Points Range: Spurs games tend to be high-scorers almost 95% of the time these days. While Clippers showcase better defensive discipline, the Spurs tend to be better than them at the offensive end. What does this mean? A likelihood of a high-scorer because the Spurs can force shootouts. I think the Spurs(if healthy) can get close to the 110 points mark and put pressure on the Clippers to score. Tell you what, if Mann, Kennard, Bledsoe, and Jackson are healthy, I can see them breach that mark too. What scoring range do I feel can be possible here? Somewhere in the 216-228 points range.

Result Prediction: At the time of writing this piece, the Spurs appear to be the healthier among the two teams. They have more options off the bench, something which the Clippers are lacking heavily right now. Still, the Spurs defense can give chances to the Clippers starters to go for big games and put up a bunch of points. If Paul George finally returns for the Clippers, I give the team a 59% chance of winning this game, if he misses out, I call this 51% in favour of the Spurs. We can be in for a close game here I feel. I take the Spurs if Paul George doesn’t play to win 116:112. If George plays, I take the Clippers 114:109.

Betting Options

• Total O 215.5 for 1.90;
• Any Other Score: Win With Difference Less Than 8 for 2.00;
• San Antonio Spurs- Total Points Over 106.5 for 1.95.