In another apparent mismatch between the NBA’s worst team and one of its best, the Los Angeles Clippers travel to Toyota Center to face the Houston Rockets on Friday night. The visitors are widely viewed as title contenders for the 2021 playoffs, having won 10 of their last 11 games.
For the home side, it’s yet another game versus a top-tier opponent as the 2020-21 regular season winds down. The Rockets were blasted by Utah on Wednesday, and the Clippers will have every opportunity to do the same as Houston’s brief two-game homestand comes to a close.
As expected, Houston’s injury report for Friday is long. Kevin Porter Jr. (health and safety protocols) DJ Augustin (left ankle), Sterling Brown (left knee), Dante Exum (right calf), Eric Gordon (right groin), and David Nwaba (right wrist) are all listed as out, though Danuel House Jr. (right ankle) is probable to return after missing the last 10 games.
The Los Angeles injury report is less extensive in volume, listing only three confirmed absences. However, one of those is superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, who will miss a third straight game with right foot soreness. Serge Ibaka (lower back) and Patrick Beverley (left hand fracture) are also out, while Rajon Rondo (right wrist) is questionable.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Clippers -10
- Money line: Clippers -500 / Rockets +375
- Over-under: 222.5
- Player scoring props: Paul George 27.5; John Wall 22.5, Christian Wood 19.5, Kelly Olynyk 4.5, Jae’Sean Tate 12.5
Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.
With Leonard out, the Clippers are expected to start Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Ivica Zubac. Meanwhile, Stephen Silas is likely to counter with John Wall, Armoni Brooks, Jae’Sean Tate, Kelly Olynyk and Christian Wood for the Rockets.
Advice and prediction
John Wall is not on the initial injury report, but he could be a late addition, since Houston has returned to its original protocol of having Wall sit out one game of all back-to-backs for planned maintenance. (The Rockets also play on Saturday in Denver.) That might provide more value on the Clippers, since the aforementioned spread was made expecting Houston’s assists leader and second-leading scorer to be available.
Even if Wall does play, though, there are plenty of reasons that the Leonard-less Clippers could still win big. While Leonard has missed six games over the last two weeks, the Clippers are 5-1 in that stretch — with three wins by double-digit margins. Expect another one in Houston.
Prediction: Clippers 119, Rockets 107
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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