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The Los Angeles Clippers hit the road and take on the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on December 31, 2019.
The Clippers are ranked 2nd in the Pacific Division with their 23-11 record. They are coming off a loss to the Utah Jazz and are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Kings meanwhile are 12-21 and in 4th place in the Pacific Division team standings. Sacramento head to this contest having lost seven straight games.
Clippers Beaten by Jazz
After their big win over their cross-town rival Lakers on Christmas Day, the Los Angeles Clippers were beaten by the Utah Jazz in their last outing. The Clippers shot just 36.8% from the field and scored only 15 points in the final 12 minutes of the game to allow Utah to walk away with a 120-107 win.
Paul George led the Clippers with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Kawhi Leonard had 19 points, 6 assists and 2 steals for Los Angeles. Lou Williams added 16 points and a team-best nine assists while Ivica Zubac had 15 points and 12 boards for Los Angeles which is just 4-4 SU in their last eight games played.
The Clippers are the 5th highest-scoring team in the league at 115.3 points per game this season. They are ranked 4th in rebounding ar 46.9 boards grabbed per contest and are 18th in assists at 23.3 dimes per contest. Los Angeles is allowing its opponents to score an average of 108.8 points per game.
Seventh Straight Loss
The Sacramento Kings have hit a brick wall as they suffered their seventh straight loss at the hands of the 2nd best team in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets. Sacramento shot 52.% from the floor and buried 13 three-pointers but those weren’t enough to stop the Nuggets who won 120-115.
Nemanja Bjelica led the Kings with 27 points and six assists while Buddy Hield added 20 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and two steals. De’Aaron Fox had a game-high 13 assists while also scoring 18 points and Richaun Holmes contributed 18 points and grabbed six boards.
Sacramento has the 5th worst scoring average this season at only 105.5 points per game. They are averaging 42.2 rebounds per game, 27th in the NBA and 22.5 assists per game, 23rd overall. The Kings are giving up an average of 108.4 points per game this season, 13th in the league.
Who Wins?
The Clippers are 14-6 SU in their last 20 games played. Los Angeles is 9-8 SU in 17 road games played this season, and 10-4 SU in their last 14 games played against the Western Conference. The Kings are 0-7 SU in their last seven games played. Sacramento is 6-8 SU in 14 home games played this year. Head to head, the Clippers are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played against the Kings.
The Kings have hit a brick wall in the second half of this month. Sacramento has lost seven straight games and hasn’t won since December 15th. Six out of the seven losses have been by single digits and they have lost their last three games by a combined losing margin of eight points.
The Clippers have traded wins and losses in their last eight games. They are without doubt one of the best teams in the league but have not played consistent basketball, especially on the road where they are just 9-8 SU. After beating the Lakers on Christmas day, the Clippers lost by double digits to the Utah Jazz.
As far as injuries are concerned, the Clippers will be without Patrick Beverley who is out with an elbow injury. Meanwhile, Montrezl Harrell is listed as probable due to an undisclosed illness. On the side of Sacramento, Marvin Bagley III is considered questionable for this game due to a foot issue.
This isn’t the kind of start we expected from the powerhouse Clippers. Still, this team has proved that when they are up against the best, they play their best and perform like the team that they should be. This could be a trap game but the Clippers have won 13 in a row in Sacramento. I like them to add to that streak on Tuesday night.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers
Other Bets to Make
Los Angeles is 19-15 ATS in 34 games played this season. The Clippers are 8-9 ATS in 17 road games played this year, and 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Pacific Division. Sacramento is 1-6 ATS in their last seven games played. The Kings are 0-6 ATS in their last six games played at home, and 1-4 ATS in their last five games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Clippers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Kings.
Clippers
-7 (-110)
Kings
+7 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 12/31/19
The Clippers have outscored the Kings by an average of 11.7 points per game in their last 10 meetings and by 10 points per game in their last three head to head games. Los Angeles has dominated this matchup since 2017 and the Clippers have played well at the Golden 1 Center. With Kawhi and PG coming off a poor outing against the Jazz, look for the Clippers to bounce back with a big win here.
Prediction: Clippers -7
The total has gone over in four out of the last five games played by the Clippers. Los Angeles has seen the total go over in four out of their last five road games. The total has gone over in five out of the last seven games played by the Kings. The over is 5-2 in their last seven December games. Head to head, the over is 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
Over
222.5 (-110)
Under
222.5 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 12/31/19
These teams have combined to score an average of 223.5 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 234.33 points per game in their most recent three encounters. The Clippers have breached the 223 total in four out of their last five games played and have averaged 116.2 points per game in their last five games played. Sacramento has struggled on offense but they are coming off a game where they scored 115 points against the Denver Nuggets who are one of the top defensive teams in the league.
Prediction: Over 222.5
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