Clippers Favored As George Squares Off Against His Former Team

Paul George has made quite a splash in his first two games as a Los Angeles Clipper, and up next is the team that traded him to Los Angeles this offseason. Looking to get some revenge against his old team, George and the Clippers seem like a strong play as home favorites Monday.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Clippers opened as 8.5-point favorites, as they have a deeper and more talented team even with the absence of Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet and with a dinged-up Kawhi Leonard. The spread was posted with the expectation that Leonard does play on Monday, but if he is suddenly ruled out, expect the line to shift to a much smaller margin.

Oklahoma City News & Notes

It’s been an up-and-down start to the season for Oklahoma City. The Thunder have neither won nor lost more than two games in a row this season, currently sporting a 5-7 record, but they notched their biggest win of the season Saturday, toppling Philadelphia 127-119 in overtime.

Danilo Gallinari led the team with 28 points in the win, while Chris Paul added a season-high 27 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in with 24. The trio accounts for 55.7 points per game this season, leading the Thunder following the offseason departures of stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

They’ll look to build on the 76ers victory against a Clippers team that is a little banged up, as three of their key rotation players, Kawhi Leonard, Landry Shamet and Patrick Beverley, are questionable for Monday’s contest due to injury.

Los Angeles News & Notes

The Clippers had to wait for nine games before getting to see Paul George in action. After two games, it seems it was well worth the wait.

Rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, George made his Clippers debut Thursday and dropped 33 points in just 24 minutes, then followed that by scoring 37 points in 20 minutes in Los Angeles’ 150-101 destruction of Atlanta on Saturday. George set the NBA record for most points in a game playing 20 minutes or less, while he also became the first Clippers player ever to score 30-plus points in his first two games with the team.

Now all Los Angeles needs is to see what George and fellow superstar Kawhi Leonard look like playing together; Leonard sat out the last two games with left knee soreness and is questionable for Monday’s game, but coach Doc Rivers said he would “most likely” return.

George’s return came at a fortuitous time as besides Leonard, guards Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet have also been sidelined with injuries and their status for Monday’s game is in question.

Betting Pick: Clippers -9.5

George has been nearly unstoppable in his first two games, and now the Clippers get to add Kawhi Leonard back into the fold. It doesn’t bode well for OKC, as I think the dynamic duo combine to help the Clippers cover.