The 40-36 LA Lakers will be the road club as they face the 50-26 LA Clippers in an NBA pro basketball game on Sunday afternoon. Tip off time from Staples Center in Los Angeles is scheduled for 3:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ABC TV.
The odds from this NBA pro basketball game will be out by Sunday morning as Lakers guard Steve Nash is listed as doubtful with a hip injury.
The teams have met three times this season with the Clippers winning and covering the point spread in all three games. Each game went over the total.
The Lakers have a road record of 15-24 on the season. The Lakers win their third straight after an 86-84 home victory against the Memphis Grizzlies as a -2 point betting favorite. The game finished under 190 points. LA Lakers hit on 45.9% from the floor and made 5 of 20 three pointers. They limited the Grizzlies to 44.2% shooting and 3 of 14 three pointers. The Lakers survived 18 turnovers by pulling down seven more rebounds and attempting eleven more free throws than Memphis. Kobe Bryant led the team with 24 points and nine assists as he made 10 of his 23 shots. The Lakers own a ½ game lead over the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final seed in the Western conference with just six games left to be played. Over their past three games the Lakers have given up an average of 87.6 points a game. They give up an average of 101 points a game ranking 24th in the NBA in scoring defense so continued improvement in this area is necessary for the Lakers to not only make the playoffs but not get embarrassed once they compete in the post season.
The Clippers are 29-9 playing at home. They break a three game losing streak on Wednesday after a 126-101 home victory against the Phoenix Suns as a -16 ½ point betting favorite. The game finished over 201 points. It was a huge second half by the Clippers as they outscored Phoenix 69-51 in the second half in victory. The Clips shot 55.9% from the floor and made 9 of 21 three pointers. The team allowed 45.5% shooting to Phoenix and the Clippers forced 21 Suns turnovers. Center DeAndre Jordan led the club with 20 points and 12 boards as he made 10 of his 15 shots. LA Clippers have shot and defended well this season. They rank 5th in the NBA in shooting the basketball by hitting on 47.7% from the floor. The Clippers allows 94.8 points a game good for fourth in the league in scoring defense. The Clippers hold the fourth seed in the Western conference based only on their first place status in the Pacific Division. The fifth seed Memphis Grizzlies holds a one game lead over the Clips with just six games remaining.
