Clippers visit Heat in NBA Sunday Afternoon Clash
Due to Super Bowl 50, the NBA has a limited schedule on Sunday but South Florida hosts a great early afternoon showdown when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Miami Heat. The current line has Miami favored by 1.5 points with the over/under point total sitting on 196.
Entering this game, Los Angeles has an overall record on the season of 33-17 straight up and 24-23 against the spread. On the road, the Clippers are 16-9 SU and 13-10 ATS.
Miami on the season has a record of 29-22 SU and 26-24 ATS. At home, the Heat is 16-9 SU and 12-12 ATS.
DeAndre Jordan the starting center for the Clippers rarely plays against a big man with the same strength he has, but on Sunday, he will play Hassan Whiteside who is as strong if not stronger. Jordan has 15 rebounds or more in six consecutive games and is second in the league at 13.9 a game.
However, Whiteside had a triple-double in his last game on Friday. Whiteside is currently fifth in the NBA in rebounding with 11.1 per game. He is leading the league in blocked shots with 4.02 per game. The two are first and second in the NBA in field goal shooting percentage with Jordan at 72% and Whiteside 62%.
With Blake Griffin out injured, Jordan has taken on more importance on both ends of the court. However, a host of other players, led by Chris Paul are carrying the load as well.
Whiteside has been the sixth man the past two games after he missed six straight due to an oblique injury. Dwayne Wade the veteran guard and power forward Chris Bosh are shouldering the biggest load on offense for the Heat.
Heat forward Gerald Green has hit just 3 of his past 25 shots from beyond the 3-point line over his past 9 games.
Clippers guard Jamal Crawford has scored 20 points or more in three consecutive games and four of the past five.
Jordan did not play due to an illness on January 13 when the Clippers beat Miami at home 104-90.
The OVER has cashed in 10 of the past 12 games between the two in Miami.
The visiting team has covered the number in 4 of the past 5 games between the two teams.
Prediction: The Miami Heat are playing well and will be at home, but the Los Angeles Clippers have more offensive firepower even without Blake Griffin in the lineup. Lean on LA here.
