Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers -11 -105
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
January 14, 2017, 12:30PM PDT
Our sim work offers strong support for the Clippers to cover in the latest showdown between the two NBA teams representing the City of Angels. Star forward, Blake Griffin has missed the last dozen Clipper games as a result of undergoing "clean-up" arthroscopic knee surgery last month, and is likely still weeks away from suiting up. The Clips are a soft 6-6 SU and ATS over this span. Importantly though, premier Point Guard, Chris Paul, also missed seven of those games (the Clippers were 5-2 absent their best two players). However, with Paul back in the lineup, the best team in town has resumed their winning ways, snagging W's in each of their last five out straight up, and covering in four of five. Conversely, the Lakers are a meager 3-5 SU and ATS in their last eight games and are riding a two game losing streak.
We also note that Clippers are 12-9 at home and 16-11 facing Western Conference opposition, while the Lakers are 11-15-1 ATS following a loss, 9-13 on the road, 13-16-1 playing on one night's rest and 10-16 versus the West. With that said though, it is worth mentioning that the Lakers have dominated head-to-head action of late, covering in five of the last half dozen meetings. However, the Clippers have been decidedly superior over the longer term, as indicated by their 15-5 ATS record against the Lakers since 2012. Look for a strong performance and home cover this evening.
Happy betting!!