Clippers Host Rockets in Big Western Conference Game
The NBA Pacific Division leading Los Angeles Clippers, coming off road wins on Sunday at the Oklahoma City Thunder and Monday at the New Orleans Pelicans, will return home tonight to face the Houston Rockets in a game with big playoff implications.
In the Pacific Division, the Clippers hold a 3.0 game lead over the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets trail the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division by 1.5 games. In the Western Conference Standings, the Clippers are seeded fourth because they are a division leader and therefore would automatically host a first round series. If not for that rule, they would be fifth in the West, a game behind the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers who trial the Thunder in the Northwest by 4.0. A Clippers win and a Blazers loss would put all three in a tie for the third spot. The Blazers will host the Brooklyn Nets tonight.
The Warriors are on the road tonight, facing the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are very much a part of the Eastern Conference playoff picture along with the Nets. The Warriors are trying to hold off the Dallas Mavericks for the sixth spot in the West. Sixth puts them in a series with either the Clippers, Rockets or Blazers, none of which would be easy. But a drop to the seventh spot means the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs knocked the Warriors out of the playoffs a year ago. Come to think of it, they may want another shot at them.
The Clippers will welcome Glen “Big Baby” Davis to Los Angeles tonight as he joined them after his contract was bought out by the Orlando Magic last week. Many have been of the opinion that with another power forward that can ball a little that the Clippers would become a serious contender. Tonight we find out if that is indeed the case as Davis comes back to play for his former coach in Doc Rivers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now in the role of spoiler, a role they are not accustomed to. But after hanging tough with the Indiana Pacers last night, they head on to face playoff hopeful Memphis Grizzlies tonight. The Grizzlies are currently 1.5 games behind the eighth place Phoenix Suns in the West. They need this game badly. The Suns will be trying to keep them at arm’s length when they face the Utah Jazz tonight.
Top Bet has the odds on tonight’s games:
Houston at L.A. Clippers– Rockets are +5.5 -110 and the Clippers are -5.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Rockets +190 and Clippers -230. As a fan of the Clippers, I hope these are accurate but as a basketball analyst, I really think the Rockets are better than this. They could easily win this game. We like the Rockets +5.5 -110 very much.
L.A. Lakers at Memphis– Lakers are +11.5 -110 and Grizzlies are -11.5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is L.A. +600 and Memphis -850. Coming off a tough game last night, the Lakers should get steamrolled here. Take the Grizzlies -11.5 -110.
Golden State at Chicago– Warriors are -3 -115 and the Bulls are +3 -105 ATS. Moneyline is Warriors -155 and Bulls +135. We like the Bulls at home +3 -105.
Phoenix at Utah– The Suns are -1 -115 and the Jazz is +1 -105 ATS. We like Phoenix -1 -115 in this one. They are just better than Utah.
