Having gotten out to one of the better starts in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs will entertain the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night at the AT&T Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
Gregg Popovich’s crew has started the schedule with a 5-3 record and ranks in the top 10 in terms of scoring (115.8 points per game).
Meanwhile, Los Angeles entered the campaign with high hopes, as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard haven’t exactly been able to showcase what they can do together yet.
Instead, the Clippers rank dead-last in points per game (101.0), behind even Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, which are either at or very close to the foot of the NBA standings in their respective conferences.
Will San Antonio’s success keep up? Or will the Clippers be set on getting things on track?
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at this Western Conference tilt, then make a Clippers vs. Spurs betting prediction.
Last Game Records
As we said, the Spurs have done well out of the gate. Well, except for Wednesday night’s 143-100 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
San Antonio was missing starters Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, along with reserves Isaiah Roby and Blake Wesley, as it took one on the chin.
Spurs’ Worst Home Loss
It was the Spurs’ worst home loss in their history. Forward Keita Bates-Diop turned in 17 points, leading the team as the only starter to post double figures.
The Clippers are .500 through their first eight games, but their wins have come against crews that don’t figure to be all that good this go-round.
Cross-town Rival
They opened with a win against the cross-town rival Los Angeles Lakers, then toppled Sacramento.
A four-game losing streak ensued before Los Angeles beat Houston in a home-and-home Monday and Wednesday.
The second leg of that was a 109-101 triumph on the road, with George putting up 28 points. He led the team with 35 in the game before that.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Analysis
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs team stats show Johnson paces the lineup with 23.9 points per game. In other NBA player stats, center Jakob Poeltl ranks in the league’s top 10 with 10.8 boards per contest.
Los Angeles Clippers
George leads Los Angeles with 22.6 points per outing and adds 4.7 assists and 2.0 steals, as well. Center Ivica Zubac pulls down 11.1 rebounds a game and blocks 2.6 shots.
The Clippers grade out 17th in field goal percentage (46.2) and 27th in three-point percentage (31.2).
Updates
It’s always a pretty good idea to glance at the NBA injuries report before betting on anything on the NBA schedule.
The Clippers will be without Leonard, who didn’t travel with the team for this Lone Star State road trip. Power forward Robert Covington is also out for the matchup with an illness.
San Antonio is keeping a close eye on guard Romeo Langford and forwards Roby and Zach Collins. All are questionable for this one.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
The line on the game is essential to know when making our Clippers vs. Spurs betting prediction. In taking a close look at the odds, you’ll see that this figures to be a bit of a toss-up.
Los Angeles is -3.5 on the point spread at -110, while the Spurs are the same to cover.
On the money line, the Clippers are -154, and San Antonio is a +130 underdog. The total was not available at the time of this writing.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Prediction
Having seen the Clippers’ betting odds, this seems like one of the more interesting NBA matchups on the slate for Friday night.
Los Angeles would definitely like to have Kawhi on the floor, being that he missed a good chunk of last season.
George will make do offensively, though, so make sure to go with the Clippers to cover after this Clippers vs. Spurs betting prediction.
NBA Pick: Clippers -4.5 (-110)
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