The Lakers and Clippers have shared the Los Angeles market since 1984, when the Clippers moved up Interstate 5 from San Diego to play in L.A. For the first three decades of the Clippers’ tenure, they struggled, while the Lakers were regularly contenders and champions. The roles flipped a bit between 2013 and 2019, as the Clippers became a contender while the Lakers had to rebuild after the Shaq-Kobe era. In the last three seasons, both teams are viewed as Western Conference powers, although the Lakers are struggling this season despite a roster that includes LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis and Carmelo Anthony. The Clippers “host” the Lakers at their shared arena on Thursday night; read on if you plan to include this matchup in your NBA Odds for the week.
NBA Preview: L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers (Thursday, March 3)
When: Thursday, March 3, 2022, 10:00 pm ET
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
TV: TNT
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu
NBA Odds:
Why should you bet on the Clippers?
The Clippers have won four in a row and six of seven, but those four wins have come against Houston (three) and the Lakers. The Clippers followed up their three-point win over the Lakers with a sweep of a two-game set in Houston, including a 113-100 laugher on Tuesday night. In that win, Ivica Zubac put up 22 points and a dozen rebounds, and the Cippers posted 40 points in the third period after going into the locker room down one at the half, taking a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter. They started the final frame with a 7-0 run, with Amir Coffey scoring five of those points, to push it to 19.
Marcus Morris Sr put up 18 points, and Reggie Jackson added 17, and with Zubac patrolling the lane, the Clippers won the rebounding battle by 10. Jackson also had five boards and six assists, and Terance Man put up 11 points, seven boards and five assists. If you like the Clippers, you like their superior ball distribution and rebounding. The Lakers, on the other hand, have started to look old and tired, which makes some sense given the age of the stars that LeBron insisted the team bring to play with him.
Why should you put your money on the Lakers?
The Lakers have lost three in a row, six of seven and seven of nine; their only win in the last seven came against Utah. In this stretch, they have lost to Milwaukee at home, Portland and Golden State on the road, the Clippers and Pelicans at home and, most recently, the Mavericks at home, falling on Tuesday night, 109-104, a game in which the Lakers trailed by 21 but led by six with seven minutes to go.
In the loss, LeBron James put up 26 points, and Carmelo Anthony put up 20, although it was not enough despite the team turning a 21-point deficit just before halftime into a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The defense held Luka Doncic to 9 of 21 shooting, keeping him to 25 points, but that allowed other Mavericks to emerge. This was a better effort than the tepid showing the Lakers made when they got routed by the Pelicans on Sunday night, but the firs half was stii ugly, with the team picking up three technical fouls for arguing with officials. Russell Westbrook started the game shooting just 1 of 9, and Luka Doncic managed to throw down a putback dunk over a much taller Dwight Howard.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
With Anthony Davis still on the shelf for as long as another month due to a foot sprain, no help is coming for the Lakers any time soon. They have the talent on the roster to turn around this slide, but age and mental woes are plaguing the team – and the Clippers are rolling. I predict a final score of Clippers 112, Lakers 106.
NBA Betting Odds
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