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The LA Clippers will host the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on the 31st of December, with both teams needing a win in order to make a push for the playoffs.
The Clippers (15-19, 8-7 home) have been pretty good lately as they got players back from injury, winning 4 of their last 5 games. Last time out they beat the Lakers with ease on Friday, and that game also marked the return of Blake Griffin for the Clippers. The Clips are now reasonably healthy and ready to make a push for a Top 8 seed in the West – a place where they would have already been if not for all the injuries.
Charlotte (13-22, 3-12 away) has underperformed this season, as the visitors were expected to be a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference, but are currently struggling to make any ground. The Hornets have lost 13 of their last 18 games, playing some poor basketball in the process, and a resurgence does not seem likely anytime soon. However, Charlotte claimed a shock road win against the Golden State Warriors in their last game, on Friday.
Bet on Clippers vs Hornets and claim your 100% (100 Eur) freebet at Ohmbet now!Team news: The Clippers will continue to miss Gallinari and Beverley, while Rivers is highly doubtful after he suffered an Achilles sprain on Friday against the Lakers. Common sense suggests he won`t play, and we should assume he will be out. Hornets will be at full strength with the exception of backup PF Cody Zeller, who is a long term absentee.
My first impression when I saw the Clippers as 1.65 – 1.70 odds favorites in this game was that there must be a big injury for the Clips, but that is not the case. They might potentially miss Rivers, but that wouln`t be a big loss. Blake Griffin and Milos Teodosic will play, so that is all Clippers fans need to hear.
Griffin and Teodosic are the two most important players for LA, and the Clippers usually win & cover the spread when they are on the floor. The feeling is that, after so many injuries and lineup rotations for the Clips, the bookies underestimate just how important these two players are for the Clippers when they are playing together (as it was seen on Friday against the Lakers).
The Clippers are playing well lately, winning 4 of their last 5 and showing some good team basketball in the process. Whith Blake Griffin back they become an elite team, and a winning run is due.
The Hornets are the worse team here, they are not in good form and they are also traditionally useless on the road – this year making no exception (3-12 record away from home). The Friday win against the Warriors was a fluke, and it only makes Charlotte prone to a bad night here – as it is unlikely they can play two good matches in a row on the road.
I struggle to understand why LA is only a 2.5 point spread favorite in this game, so I will bet max stakes on the Clippers to cover the -3 (asian) handicap. Odds on the bet are dropping, and for good reason. I don`t expect the line to remain so low come game time, I think the Clippers should be at least 5 point favorites here, and even in that case I would back them to cover.
Look for the Los Angeles Clippers to play a reasonably good game and win this by about 10-20 points against an inferior side, particularly considering the fact that the Hornets are coming after a rare big win and might be hungover. Prediction: LA Clippers – Charlotte Hornets 118 – 100.
Pick: Clippers -3
Odds: 2.00 @ Sbobet
Stake: 10
Possible profit: 10
Event date: 31 December
