A battle in the Pacific Division has the leading Golden State Warriors continuing their three-game homestand by playing host to the second-place Los Angeles Clippers. Only twice since the 2013 season has LA gotten the better of Golden State at Oracle Arena, most recently, it claimed a 125-106 victory on Jan. 10 of this year. Due to the Warriors’ home dominance in this rivalry, they are 10.5-point favorites tonight with the total Sportsbook at 233 points.
- The total has gone OVER in five of Los Angeles’ last seven games.
- The total has gone OVER in each of the last eight games between Golden State and Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles is 3-0 ATS in its last three against Golden State.
Los Angeles vs Golden State Game Center
Clippers seek third win a row
Los Angeles continues to pile on the points this season as it has scored an average of 115.3 points per game which is the fourth-most and just 0.3 points fewer than its counterparts Golden State. There is not much downturn when it heads out on the road either, as it still racks up 114 points per game which is the third-most, however, it is just 8-9 SU away from home this season, dropping four of its last six. The biggest issue for the Clippers is their defense as they are allowing teams such as Phoenix, which is averaging 104.6 points per game, to put up 119 points against them and on the season, they are surrendering an average of 114.2 points per game which is the sixth-most in the league.
LA is giving up the second-most shot attempts per game at 93, mostly due to its poor rebounding as its opponents are securing the second-most offensive rebounds against it and it is allowing the second-most second-chance points in the NBA at 14.9. Additionally, it has been roughed up around the rim, giving up the fourth-most points in the paint per game at 51.9, fortunately for them, the Warriors score the fewest PITP in the league.
Warriors have been ungracious hosts this season
Oracle Arena continues to be a difficult place for opponents to play as only three teams have been able to claim victory there this year. The East-leading Toronto Raptors were the most recent, and before that was the second-placed team in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, tied for first in the West – three pretty stout teams. Golden State has scored at least 110 points in all but three games at home this season and it is averaging 115.8 points per game which is the seventh-most in the NBA.
The Warriors shoot the ball extremely well at Oracle Arena, averaging the second-best home shooting percentage at 48.5, including the second-best three-point percentage at 38.9. Meanwhile, defensively they rank in the middle of the pack, giving up an average of 110.6 points per game which ranks 17th, but they don’t make it easy as they contest the third-most shots per game at 68.6, trailing just the Bucks and Raptors. Lastly, LA got the best of Golden State at the Staples Center in mid-November, eking out a 121-116 overtime victory, but this time, Steph Curry will be in the lineup for the Warriors and it may be a different story.
Should you be on the OVER?
Golden State averages the third-most points per game this season, while Los Angeles scores the fourth-most and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 233 points. The Clippers are having a hard time defending the three-ball recently, as opponents are shooting 37.4 percent from beyond the arc which is the seventh-highest percentage in the league, while the Warriors shoot 38.5 percent from long range all season. Additionally, the total has gone OVER in five of the Clippers’ last seven games with an average combined score of 233.86. Lastly, the total has gone OVER in each of the last eight meetings between these two teams with an average combined score of 242.5.
My take on Los Angeles vs Golden State
I like the OVER 233 points. These two teams have had an average combined score of 242.5 over their last eight meetings, all over the games going OVER and seven of those games going OVER 233 points. Meanwhile, the Warriors have scored 110 or more points in all but three of their home games this season, while the Clippers have surrendered 110 or more points in each of their last eight games. Golden State and Los Angeles played to a combined score of 237 when they met just over a month ago and the Warriors were without Steph Curry for that match. Lastly, the Warriors have the 10th-highest pace of play while the Clippers are slightly faster in ninth which means there should be a lot of up and down the court action that the OVER should come through.
