Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs Odds, Analysis and NBA Betting Pick
With just three games left in the regular season the Los Angeles Clippers are fighting for home-court advantage in a first-round playoff matchup with the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs will be hosting the Clippers in the second game of a back-to-back situation on Saturday night with nothing on the line.
Point spread: The Spurs opened as four-point favorites; the total is at 207.5, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.
NBA betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 106.0-101.7, Clippers (NBA picks on every game)
Why the Clippers can cover the spread
Los Angeles has already won the season series 3-1 against Utah, so a tie would work in its favor. That makes this a huge game for the Clippers, who could see San Antonio rest some key players in this spot. They have beaten the Spurs twice in three meetings so far this season, including a 116-92 rout at the AT&T Center as five-point road underdogs back on November 5.
In that first meeting away from home, Blake Griffin led Los Angeles with 28 points as both teams were playing in the second game of a back-to-back.
Why the Spurs can cover the spread
San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol versus the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, but he may play some of them here in an effort to meet the playoff intensity of the Clippers because they are playing for something.
Nobody knows for sure what Pop will do, although his team still has one of the best home records in the NBA at 31-9 straight up, and it may be tempting to back the Spurs as spoilers against Los Angeles.
Smart betting pick
The pressure is on the Clippers to pick up a road victory as the team continues to battle the Jazz for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The last two games for Los Angeles will be at home against the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings.
The Clippers were able to rout the Spurs early in the season when each played their best players on short rest, and San Antonio has gone 1-4 against the spread in its previous five in this situation. Take Los Angeles to win this battle again and cover for the fourth time in six meetings.
NBA betting trends
Los Angeles is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five games.
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last five games on the road.
San Antonio is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games at home.
All NBA lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
