NBA: Lakers, Spurs and Thunder set for spread wins
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The Staples Center will be packed to capacity tonight as Los Angeles’ NBA sides commence battle in front of the BT Sport cameras.
And, while the Clippers are almost certain to rack up a sixth straight win, the Lakers have at least been in scoring form in recent games and should make the most of a +10.5-point handicap.
Add this selection to spread wins for San Antonio and Oklahoma against Miami and Phoenix respectively and a £10 stake could mean healthy returns of £69.58.
With five consecutive wins under their belts and the Lakers (21-40) enduring one of their worst seasons in recent memory, the Clippers (42-20) will be supremely confident of a derby win.
Doc Rivers’ men are 5-1 from six meetings with the city’s supposed dominant side and while the Staples Center is home to both outfits, Mike D’Antoni’s side have lost 10 of their last 12 as hosts.
However, while defeat to New Orleans last time out ended a mini revival (two wins in a row) for the Lakers, D’Antoni’s men are at least shooting the ball well.
The hosts have hit 100+ points for four games in a row now including 125 in the loss to the Pelicans, meaning the Clippers are likely to need 111 or more to cover the spread – something they have failed to achieve in five of their last seven outings.
With LeBron James in top form – he recently scored a career high 61 points against Charlotte – Miami (43-15) will be confident of bouncing straight back from defeat to Houston last time out.
The Heat are 8-1 from their last nine, 4-1 from five on the road and winners of four of the last five meetings with San Antonio (44-16).
However, Greg Popovich’s side will be just as confident – if not more so – of picking up where the Rockets left off and inflicting consecutive defeats on Miami for the first time since January 10th.
The Spurs are also in decent form with a 7-1 record from their last eight and a 4-1 record from five at AT&T Center.
Add in Miami’s 3-14 record from 17 trips to the Texans and a deficit of just 2.5 shouldn’t be too hard for the hosts to overcome.
If anyone is to halt King James’ reign as the league’s MVP it is Oklahoma’s (46-15) Kevin Durant who, with an average of 31.7 points per game, is the NBA’s leading scorer so far this term.
With KD in hot form – he managed 42 last time out against the 76ers – and the Thunder averaging 118 points on their current three-game win streak – six points shouldn’t prove too large an obstacle, especially with the Suns averaging 106 over their last three outings.
OKC are 8-2 from 10 on the road and have won five consecutive visits to US Airways Center, while Phoenix have lost four of their last six in the league, so this one looks a formality.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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