The Clippers look to get back in the win column when they host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Game time is 10:35 PM ET and will be televised on TNT as part of the networks Thursday night doubleheader.
The Clippers opened as -3.5 point
favorites with the total at 191.5. At the moment, ealry sports betting action has been fairly even, with the total falling slightly to 191 at some sportsbooks. With only two games slated for tonight, look for the betting action to increase, meaning that the NBA odds could swing in our favor.
The Clippers (9-6
SU, 8-7 ATS) are coming off a 97-91 loss to the Lakers that cost them sole
possession of first-place in the NBA Pacific Division. It also spoiled the
return of Chris Paul
who had missed the last six games with a hamstring injury. Paul played 27
minutes and had four points on 2 of 8 shooting and dished out a game-high 12
assists.
Blake Griffin scored a game high 26 points, but the Clippers didn’t
have an answer for Kobe Bryant who scored 24 and Pau Gasol who added 23 points
with 10 rebounds. Although the game was played at Staples, it was deemed a road
game for the Clippers, who are now 1-4 when wearing the visiting colors as
opposed to a record of 8-2 SU (7-3 ATS) as the home team.
Problems in Portland
Memphis (10-7 SU, 9-8 ATS) is coming off a 97-84 loss in Portland on Tuesday. The Blazers ferocious
defense held the Grizzlies to 38 percent shooting (34-of-90) and limited the
Grizz’ to just one field goal in the first nine minutes of the second half when
they shot 1 of 11 to start the third period. Memphis' starting five scored just
36 points and was 15 of 51 from the field. Rudy Gay, Memphis' leading
scorer at 18.9 points per game, had just 11. O.J. Mayo came off the bench
to lead the Grizzlies with 20 points. Portland also out-rebounded Memphis
50-39.
The Grizzlies
stumbled at the start losing six of their first nine games both straight up and
ATS. They suffered a big blow when Zach Randolph tore knee ligaments in a
January 1 game against the Bulls that will keep him sidelined until March.
Randolph was averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game when he went down.
For his career, the former Michigan State star is averaging 18 points and 10
boards per outing.
Numbers game
Marc Gasol
continues to be double-trouble for the opposition. He’s averaging a
double-double (14.7 points, 10.2 rebounds per game) and leads in blocked shots
and field goal shooting (52.7 percent).
Overall Memphis is
14th in the league in scoring (95.1) and seventh in field goal
percentage (45.9). However the Grizzlies have struggled from beyond the arc,
shooting just 31.1 percent.
Defensively,
Memphis is 10th in points allowed (92.6), 12th in field
goal percent (43.7) and 19th in guarding the 3-point shot (34.4
percent).
Heading into
Wednesday night’s game against the Lakers, the Clippers were 8th in
the NBA in scoring (97.4 ppg), 11th in field goal percentage (45.2)
and 15th in 3-point shooting (34.6 percent). Defensively, Los
Angeles is in the bottom third of the league in most of the important
categories. LA is 20th in points allowed (96.1 ppg), 18th
in field goal percentage (44.1) and 28th in guarding the trey
(37.3).
Trends
The Clippers have lost consecutive games just
once this season, while going 4-1 ATS after a defeat.
Memphis has won six of its last seven SU and
is on a 5-1 ATS streak. This will be its third game in four nights, and it must be
noted that only one of those opponents that the Grizzlies beat during the
streak were within three games of .500
Harvey’s Take: I’ll add the Clippers and the ‘under’ to my NBA picks tonight. The Clippers blew
an 11-point second half lead in losing to the Lakers so they’ll be anxious to
get things turned around a Grizzlies team that is just 3-4 (SU and ATS) on the
road and are scoring just 84.9 PPG on the road.
Good
luck!