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The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Houston Rockets on Monday night in the NBA, both teams dealing with a number of injuries.
The Clippers (21-21, 12-9 home) have been in excellent form lately despite regularly missing a number of starters. Doc Rivers has done a great job coaching this current group and the Clippers have now won 8 of their last 10 games, including the previous 4. A win today would finally put the Clips back on a playoff position in the West, so they will be focused and confident about claiming another victory in this clash.
Houston (30-11, 15-5 away) is also struggling with injuries, as they have to play without their main guy, James Harden. He missed the last 6 games for the Rockets and while the team still went 4-2 without him, they had an easy schedule and their level of play was clearly affected. The Houston Rockets are riding a three game winning streak at the moment, but have defeated just one playoff level team since James Harden went out.
Bet on Clippers vs Rockets and claim your 100% (100 Eur) freebet at Ohmbet now!Team news: CJ Williams, Rivers, Beverley and Gallinari will miss out for LA, all of them long term injuries. DeAndre Jordan could also miss his second game in a row, he is questionable and will probably be a game time decision. The Rockets will be without Harden, Nene, Williams and Onuaku. There are also doubts over Black and Mbah a Moute (with the second one being likely to play).
Both teams are shorthanded and both have done well to claim wins without some of their best players, but you have to feel the Clippers are in a better position coming into this match. They have been dealing with these injuries since the start of the season, and are fully used to playing with the current lineup. This Clippers group has found chemistry, is playing great together, and is winning games. Houston will feel the absence of James Harden more than the Clippers will feel their own absences.
The Clippers are without a doubt one of the most underrated teams in the NBA right now, having posted an incredible 16-1-4 ATS record in their last 21 games. That means that they covered the spread in 16 of their last 21 matches, a statistic which tells you how often they have exceeded expectations lately.
Clippers will also have Teodosic healthy, which is important because with him on the floor they often win, and almost always cover the spread. Clippers are 11-4 and 12-0-3 ATS when Teodosic plays.
I expect LA to have another good game and cover the spread yet again. They are in a very good moment, while Houston will not be at its best without the leading candidate for league MVP, James Harden. I do not think the Rockets have enough to deserve being favorites away from home in LA.
Hopefully DeAndre Jordan will be fit and ready to go for the Clippers, as he is the only player on their injury list who is not a long term absentee. However, Houston also misses a plethora of big men, so even without DeAndre Jordan the Clippers should cover the spread. I am placing my bet with the presumption that he will not play.
My tip is LA to cover the +4,5 handicap. Prediction: LA Clippers – HOU Rockets 114 – 110.
Pick: Clippers +4,5
Odds: 1.93 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 7.44
Event date: 16 January
