The Clippers and Rockets have played twice already, with each team winning at home, while the OVER hit in Houston and the UNDER in Los Angeles. With Round 3 again in Los Angeles, where the Clippers are 14-1 SU and 11-4 ATS, the home team again is the smart play.
- Date/Time: December 19, 6 p.m. ET
- Arena: Staples Center
- TV Coverage: Sportsnet, AT&T SportsNet - Southwest
- Sportsbook Odds: Los Angeles -5.5 | O/U 231.5
- Rockets vs Clippers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The Clippers have simply been dominant at home and come into the game on a strong ATS stretch, covering in five of their last six. Meanwhile, Houston has covered the spread just once in its last six games. Add in that the Rockets have struggled on the road against the Clippers and it equals Los Angeles as a 5.5-point favorite. An Sportsbook total of 231.5 may seem low for a matchup between two of the league’s top five scoring offenses, but considering the Clippers are an incredible defensive team at home, the total is actually appropriate.
Houston News & Notes
While most players tend to have their hands full against the athletic and relentless Clippers defense, James Harden has seemed to have no trouble at all.
Harden has averaged 42 points in two games already against Los Angeles this season, but he’s really been torching the entire NBA: he’s averaging 40.4 points per game over his last 10 contests and his season average is still at a ridiculous 38.9 points per game — more than seven points per game ahead of the league’s second-leading scorer.
The third matchup this season might be a little tougher, however, as the Clippers have held three of their last five opponents to less than 100 points. These teams split their previous two matchups, with the total going OVER in the Rockets’ win in Houston, while the Clippers won on their home court with the total going UNDER.
The total has also gone UNDER in nine of Houston’s last 12 road games, so recent history suggests the Rockets may need to have a better defensive performance than their current eighth-worst ranking.
Los Angeles News & Notes
The Clippers are rolling right now, having won 14 of their last 17 games, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George co-existing as well as any two superstars could. Both players are averaging about 25 points per game over their last 10, while the defense is starting to ramp up the intensity and show off all the versatility the roster provides.
The Clippers have the third-lowest opponent field-goal percentage in the league; they make their opponents take tough shots and work for their points. They’re even tougher at home, where they have the lowest opponent field-goal percentage and give up the sixth-fewest points per game.
It’s no surprise then that the Clippers are 14-1 SU and 11-4 ATS at home this season. Bettors should expect the Clippers to again bring that defensive intensity tonight that visiting teams have come to dread.
Betting Pick: Clippers -5.5
The Clippers are the best home team in the NBA, while the Rockets are solid, but not spectacular, on the road. This is a marquee matchup, but Los Angeles covers.
- Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games.
- Houston is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games.
- The OVER is 4-1 in the last 5 Clippers-Rockets games.
