The Philadelphia 76ers continue their five-game road swing as they make their way to the Staples Center to tip off against the Los Angeles Clippers. Philadelphia welcomed Los Angeles to the Wells Fargo Center in early November and handed them a 122-113 loss, the 76ers’ third-straight triumph over the Clippers. However, LA is a three-point favorite in tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 233 points.
- Los Angeles is 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in its last six games.
- Philadelphia is 7-11 SU and 6-12 ATS in its 18 road games this season.
- The total has gone OVER in eight of Los Angeles’ last 11 games.
Philadelphia vs Los Angeles Game Center
76ers are coming off their worse loss of the season
Philadelphia didn’t have much time to lick its wounds after a 129-95 drubbing at the hands of Portland two days ago as it had to pack up and head to Los Angeles for tonight’s game. The 34-point deficit the 76ers faced in that game on Sunday was their worst of the season, and the fourth-most points they have allowed this year. Over their last 15 games, they have given up an average of 70.8 points per game from opposing guards which are the worst in the association, 5.1 more points than second-worst Atlanta. Philadelphia was able to earn a 122-113 victory over LA on November 1, but it received 41 points from center Joel Embiid who was inactive for the Portland game and is questionable for tonight’s game with a knee injury.
Offensively, the 76ers are averaging 113.8 points per game over their last 15 games which is the seventh-most in the league, while hitting 47.3 percent of their shots which is the ninth-highest percentage over that span. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, they have done a great job at limiting their opponents’ second chances as they are allowing just 10.6 second-chance points in their last 15 which is the second-fewest in the NBA and they have done this by giving up the fourth-fewest offensive boards at 9.2.
Clippers’ defense has been non-existent recently
Los Angeles is on its best run since late November as it has picked up wins in four of its last six games, after ending a four-game losing slide. It hasn’t been pretty for the Clippers recently, though, as they are averaging the fourth-fewest shots per game over their last 15 contests, but luckily, they are shooting 47.7 percent from the floor which is tied for the fourth-best percentage over that span and overall, they scoring 113.5 points per game which ranks 10th.
Their offense has to be shooting the lights out as their defense is not carrying its weight whatsoever. Over the last 15 games, LA has given up an average of 118.2 points per game which is the second-most in the association, including surrendering the second-most points off turnovers per game at 19.6 as it has averaged the third-most turnovers at 16.1. Additionally, their opponents are grabbing an average of 11.1 offensive rebounds per game over this recent stretch which is the sixth-most in the NBA resulting in the most second-chance points at 14.8.
Is the OVER the bet to make?
Tonight’s game features two of the top-10 scoring teams in the league over the last 15 games and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 233 points. The Clippers have been OVER machines recently going OVER or pushing 233 points in six of its last seven games with an average combined score of 243.71. Meanwhile, the 76ers have gone OVER 233 points in three of its last seven games and these two teams went OVER 233 points when they met on November 1. However, if Philly doesn’t have Joel Embiid in its offense it takes quite a drastic hit that I’m not sure if it can carry its end of the OVER. I’m not keen either way for the total but if I absolutely had to make a choice I’d be on the OVER.
My take on Philadelphia vs Los Angeles
I like the Clippers to cover the three-point spread tonight. The 76ers haven’t been great on the road this season at 7-11 SU and 6-12 ATS and they could be without their leading scorer Joel Embiid for the second straight game – they only mustered 95 points on Sunday without him. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has been on a bit of a hot stretch recently, shooting 51 percent from the floor, racking up 123.3 points per game which are the most in the NBA. Additionally, on the season they are 12-5 SU and 11-6 ATS at the Staples Center and are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in its last six games overall.
