Tag: 2019-20 NBA Playoffs

Monday’s NBA card features two tied series in each conference. The Boston Celtics meet the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Los Angeles Clippers play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all NBA games, so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Raptors (EVEN/-100) to beat the Celtics

OG Anunoby’s buzzer-beater to win Game 3 was one of the signature moments of the NBA restart and single-handedly reversed the course of this series. The Raptors were down 2-0 and no team has come back from 3-0 to win a series.

Toronto carried that momentum into Game 4 and got gutsy performances out of Kyle Lowery, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. One of the adjustments NBA Coach of the Year, Nick Nurse, has made is the extended playing time for Lowery and VanVleet.

Both have played more than 45 minutes in the past two games. According to the NBA community, Nurse’s rationale for this is all the officiating replays and huddles providing hidden breaks for his players.

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Nick Nurse is showing why he was named NBA’s Coach of the Year in this series. Toronto is finally looking like the defensive team we saw in the regular season (2nd in defensive efficiency) and held Boston to under 100 points for the first time in the series.

In regard to the defensive adjustments, Nurse said:  “We’re trying to provide help and we’re trying to show them different looks and different matchups and things to try to keep some rhythm in our favor.”

Whatever zone or help schemes Nurse is employing are working. The Celtics shot a combined 32-77 from deep in the first two games, while they were just 16-64 in Games 3 and 4.

While Anunoby’s buzz-beater can be reasoned as lucky, I’d argue that Marcus Smart’s five 3-pointer fourth quarter in Game 2 was a lucky turn of events for Boston. Jayson Tatum may very well be the Eastern Conference player of the playoffs (I just made that up); but the battle-tested Raptors have figured out his co-stars. Toronto’s depth and experience are what will push them past Boston. 

This is a great matchup, bet the RAPTORS (EVEN/-100) TAKE GAME 5 and control of the series.   

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The Los Angeles Lakers are in a familiar position heading into Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series against the Houston Rockets (down 1-0). In a major playoff plot twist, the Miami Heat look to complete a sweep of 1-seed Milwaukee Bucks.

Our action is going on the West’s second-round matchup.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all NBA games, so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Under 222.5 (-110) in Rockets vs. Lakers

If you are paying attention to the NBA restart then you’ve heard people talk about Houston’s defensive awakening and Los Angeles’ offensive struggles. The Rockets have seamlessly transitioned into a hardnose defensive team.

They have the best defensive rating in the playoffs and are ranked 2nd in opponent’s 3-point percentage and 5th in opponent’s free throw attempts. We saw these manifest in Game 1 where the Lakers only attempted 19 free throws and shot .289% from three.

Los Angeles supposedly fixed its offense after Game 1 of their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, when they scored 93 points, but that was a far worse defensive team that was also banged up.

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We got some trendy reasons to like the Under 222.5 (-110) in the Rockets-Lakers. Houston has a 3-5 Over/Under record and the lowest O/U margin in the playoffs (-10.6). Los Angeles is 2-4 O/U themselves and has a -6 O/U margin. The total has gone Under in four of  Lakers’ last five games against the Rockets and 11 of Houston’s last 15 games this season. 

There’s a wide discrepancy between the sharps and joes on the total as well. According to Pregame.com, 76% of the total money wagered has been on the Under compared to just 58% of the tickets being on the Under. The amount of money wagered is sharper than the tickets because sharps bet more money than you or I. 

Defenses will pace Game 2, TAKE UNDER 222.5 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 bet on Under 222.5 (-110) pays a $100 profit if the Rockets-Lakers combine for 222 or fewer total points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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The 1-seeds take center stage in the NBA Friday. The Milwaukee Bucks hope to get back into their second-round series against the Miami Heat after dropping the first two games and the Los Angeles Lakers versus Houston Rockets begin their series.

Let’s hone in on the Western Conference Semifinals for today’s bet.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all NBA games, so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Houston Rockets +6 (-110) versus LA Lakers

The most impressive aspect of the Rockets’ +6 (-110) first-round series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was their tenacious defense. Houston had the best defensive rating in the first round and James Harden punctuated its incredible defensive effort with a decisive block of Lu Dort’s 3-point attempt at the end of Game 7.

That defensive ferociousness will need to carry over against the Lakers -6 (-110), who struggled offensively against a healthy Portland Trail Blazers and at the end of the regular season restart. Houston won and covered in two of the three regular-season games versus Los Angeles.

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Russell Westbrook has ripped through the Lakers this season:  38 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6 assists on .627% shooting in two games versus Los Angeles. He’s played in the final three games of Houston’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after missing six straight.

Westbrook’s minutes and volume have increased over those games and a fully ramped up Westbrook is bad news for Houston. The best part about Westbrook’s games against the Lakers was that he only attempted two 3’s in both games. He was aggressive about attacking the rim and if plays like that it should open up looks for Rockets role players.

The Rockets are 4-1 ATS when getting 5-7 points and the Lakers are 6-9 ATS when laying that many points. Houston has the 4th-highest cover % as an underdog in the NBA.  If Houston can give a weak Lakers offense some challenges and knock down some open 3’s the ROCKETS +6 (-110) WILL CASH.

New to sports betting? A $110 bet on the Rockets +6 (-110) pays a $100 profit if Houston wins or loses by five or fewer points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Now that the first round is finally behind us, we can turn all of our attention to the conference semifinals. The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors square off in Game 3 of their series and Game 1 of the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers second-round series tips off Thursday.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all NBA games, so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Kawhi to score 30+ points & Clippers win (+150)

“Playoff” Kawhi Leonard is a real thing. He’s jumped up to 32.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on .538% field goal shooting per game from regular season marks of 27.1 points and 7.1 rebounds on .470% shooting.

Kawhi scored 30-plus points in five of the six games in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks. His Usage % is down to 30.8 to 33 USG % in the regular season, but he’s still 12 points more efficient per 100 possessions, a 50-point higher True Shooting %, and a 32.2 PER (26.9 PER in regular season).

The one thing absent from his game in these playoffs, and in the regular-season meetings with Denver, is his 3-point shooting. Kawhi shot under .294% from deep in the first round and only .250% in his three games this season versus the Nuggets. Also, the main factor for this BetMGM special parlay price is due to Kawhi only scoring 30 points in one of those games.

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But Denver and their first-round opponent, the Utah Jazz, are tied for the playoff-lead in 3-point % (.421%). And the Nuggets were league-average this season in most defensive categories. 

If you think those percentages look good, you should see the Clippers’ implied win probability (82%) which is calculated by their moneyline price (Clippers -455). But in a weird way, we are rooting for the Nuggets +9 (-110) spread wager to pay out and the Clippers win in a close game.

There is a better chance of higher Kawhi usage if the game is tighter. It would be in our benefit if the Clippers got down early because of poor shooting from role players and then Kawhi decided to take over the game in the second half. That’s how this ticket cashes.

We are chasing the value but GIMME KAWHI 30+ POINTS & CLIPPERS TO WIN (+150). New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Kawhi prop and Los Angeles victory profits $150 if Kawhi scores 30-plus points and the Clippers win Game 1.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

The series a majority of the NBA community figured would be the most competitive in the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, has lived up to the hype. Game 7 of the Thunder-Rockets tips off at 9:00 p.m. ET and is the best bet of the day.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all NBA games, so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Thunder +5.5 (-110) against the Rockets

The best argument for the Rockets -5.5 (-110) is if you handicapped a victory and aren’t sweating the spread because Houston’s three previous wins this series came by an average margin of 20.6 points. Makes sense.

Positive game script for the Rockets is a high-octane shootout where the Thunder mistakenly tries to keep up with Houston’s 3-point barrage. But for Oklahoma City, they are going to want to slow the pace down (ranked 22nd in the NBA) and get to the foul line (3rd-highest free throw rate in the NBA).

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This is a legacy game for both sides and I like Chris Paul to maestro his team past Houston. He took over in the fourth quarter of Game 6 — scoring 15 points, grabbing 3 boards and getting 2 steals — which is a situation he’s thrived in all season.

The Thunder had the most clutch wins in the NBA during the regular season (30-15). Clutch is when the margin is five or less in the last five minutes of the game. The Thunder’s success in clutch situations is based on having CP3 run the show.

OKC has the 2nd-highest cover % in the NBA (47-31 ATS), including the postseason, and Houston is ranked 22nd (36-42 ATS). The Thunder were 3-0 ATS in the regular season against the Rockets and won outright in both games Russell Westbrook was active in.

The pressure is mounting for Westbrook and James Harden, who both have similar playoff woes as Paul. Westbrook and Harden failed to take advantage of a reeling OKC and faltered down the stretch of Game 6.

If this Game 7 is officiated like the Jazz-Nuggets was Tuesday, we could see the refs swallow their whistles, allowing both teams to pick up their defensive intensity. A game that goes Under the total favors OKC.

I “like” OKC to advance and “LOVE” THUNDER +5.5 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 bet on the Thunder +5.5 (-110) pays a $100 profit if OKC wins or loses by five or fewer points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

We’re going to hear the two most exciting words in sports Tuesday:  Game 7. The slate features a losers-leave-the-bubble matchup with Utah Jazz playing the Denver Nuggets and Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all bubble games so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Celtics-Raptors Under 218.5 (-110) 

Boston pounced on Toronto early in Game 1 — outscoring them 39-23 in the 1st quarter — thanks to 6-8 3-point shooting and getting to the foul line 11 times.

But that’s a rare occurrence from the Celtics as they were 21st in the NBA in first-quarter scoring. Also, Toronto holds opponents to the 5th-lowest first-quarter scoring output in the NBA. 

Expect to see a stronger defensive performance from the Raptors in Game 2 in all because the situation calls for it. Nick Nurse was recently named Coach of the Year and that’s in part due to his reputation as a defensive strategist. The Raptors hold their opponents to the lowest 3-point % in the NBA and are the second-most defensively efficient team.

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They would be best served to lean on their defense tenacity since they want to get in a shootout against Jayson Tatum and the rest of the Celtics. Marcus Smart and Brad Wanamaker combined to go 7-13 from 3-point land and we should expect that to regress a little in Game 2.

Don’t sleep on the Celtics defense either. Boston has the 4th-most efficient defense, their opponents shoot the 2nd-lowest % of 3’s and 4th-lowest effective field goal %.

Also, we have a couple of trends backing our Under play:

• The Under has cashed in three straight Celtics-Raptors games.
• Boston has a 1-6 Over/Under record in their last seven overall games.
• Boston has a 7-15 O/U record when they are the underdog.

If the Raptors are going to get back into this series, it’ll most likely be because of its defense. TAKE UNDER 218.5 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 on Under 218.5 (-110) pays a $100 profit if Toronto and Boston score a combined 218 or fewer points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to send the Dallas Mavericks home in Game 6 of their first-round series and the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors play Game 1 of the first second-round series to tip-off in the NBA playoffs on Sunday.

But we turn our attention to the Utah Jazz trying to eliminate the Denver Nuggets in Game 6.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all bubble games so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Nuggets +3 (-110) vs. Jazz 

Utah is ahead in the series, 3-2, but Denver is 3-2 ATS in this series. Albeit Game 4, the Nuggets covered thanks to a meaningless 3-pointer by Jamal Murray as time expired, but that’s how it goes betting on sports.

Denver’s defense showed signs of life for the first time this series last game, holding Utah to a series-low 107 points. Also, they are a little healthier heading into this meeting.

Gary Harris Jr. has been activated ahead of Game 6 and, while he’s no stupendous defender, he does give the Nuggets an extra body to throw at the red-hot Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson.

Utah has three players that are shooting 50-plus % from deep (minimum of 15 3-point attempts) and the return of Harris will help Denver’s perimeter defense cool off the Jazz. When Harris has been on the court this season, Denver’s opponents have a worse offensive rating by 5 points and lower effective field goal % (.522 eFG% compared to .543 eFG%).

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It’s obviously a win or go home game for Denver; expect them to lock in on defense again, but anticipate great games again from Nikola Jokic and Murray. Jokic is averaging 26.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5 assists, and Murray is putting up 30.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists in this series.

Let’s say Denver’s All-Stars stay hot and BET NUGGETS +3 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 bet on the Nuggets +3 (-110) will pay a $100 profit if Denver wins or loses by two or fewer points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Both 8-seeds are on the brink of elimination in Saturday’s Game 5 triple-header. The Orlando Magic hope to stay alive against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers try to extend its series with the Los Angeles Lakers without superstar, Damian Lillard, in its rear-view.

Today we are going to focus on the tied Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets series.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all bubble games so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Thunder-Rockets Under 227.5 points (-110)

The major factor of this wager might throw some off originally. Russell Westbrook has been activated ahead of Game 5 in Thunder-Rockets and I think that actually hurts Houston’s offense.

Westbrook will go down as a Hall of Famer so you don’t naturally equate worse offense with his presence. However, Houston’s offensive efficiency drops 2.4 points with Westbrook on the court.

Since Westbrook is a bonafide superstar, wouldn’t it be expected Houston might force him into a gameplan or call specific plays for him? I think it does. But more Westbrook means fewer role players.

The role players are connecting on 3’s in this series and are a big reason why the Rockets are tied 2-2. Here is the order of the top 3-point shooters for Houston thus far in this series: 1-Jeff Green (.481%), 2-P.J. Tucker (.440%), 3-Ben McLemore (.412%), 4-Robert Covington (.400%), 5-Danuel House (.393%) and 6-James Harden (.327%).

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The Under cashed in two of three regular-season meetings between the Thunder and the Rockets (Westbook played in all three). The two games that went Under, Westbrook had 32 and 34 points. Furthermore, Houston’s defensive efficiency improves by two points with Westbrook on the court.

Westbrook likes to use his explosiveness early in possessions to create fastbreak chances, but the Thunder rank first in opponent’s fastbreak points per game. If OKC can force Houston to play more half-court offense, there will be fewer possessions in the game, hence less scoring. That fits what the Thunder like to do anyways since they are ranked 22nd in pace.

Also, OKC defends what Houston does well: Getting to the foul line and 3-point shooting. The Thunder rank third in opponent’s free throw rate and second in opponent’s 3-point %.

TAKE UNDER 227.5 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 wager on Under 227.5 (-110) pays a $100 profit if the total of Thunder-Rockets falls short of 227 combined points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Each conference’s 1-seeds try to eliminate its first-round foes as part of a Game 5 NBA triple-feature Wednesday. The Milwaukee Bucks look to close out the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to put a Damian Lillard-less Portland Trail Blazers in its rear-view.

But we’re going to hone in on the tied Oklahoma City Thunder-Houston Rockets series.

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all bubble games so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Thunder-Rockets Under 225.5 points (-110)

The major factor of this wager might throw some off originally. Russell Westbrook has been upgraded to “questionable” ahead of Game 5 in Thunder-Rockets and I think that actually hurts Houston’s offense.

Westbrook is a two-time scoring champion, former MVP and future Hall of Famer, so you don’t naturally equate worse offense with his presence. However, Houston’s offensive efficiency drops 2.4 points with Westbrook on the court.

Since Westbrook is a bonafide superstar, wouldn’t it be expected Houston might force him into a gameplan or call specific plays for him? I think it does. But more Westbrook means less role players.

The role players are connecting on 3’s in this series and are a big reason why the Rockets are tied 2-2. Here is the order of the top 3-point shooters for Houston thus far in this series: 1-Jeff Green (.481%), 2-P.J. Tucker (.440%), 3-Ben McLemore (.412%), 4-Robert Covington (.400%), 5-Danuel House (.393%) and 6-James Harden (.327%).

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The Under cashed in two of three regular-season meetings between the Thunder and the Rockets (Westbook played in all three). The two games that went Under, Westbrook had 32 and 34 points. Furthermore, Houston’s defensive efficiency improves by two points with Westbrook on the court.

Westbrook likes to use his explosiveness early in possessions to create fastbreak chances, but the Thunder rank first in opponent’s fastbreak points per game. If OKC can force Houston to play more half-court offense, there will be fewer possessions in the game, hence less scoring. That fits what the Thunder like to do anyways since they are ranked 22nd in pace.

Also, OKC defends what Houston does well: Getting to the foul line and 3-point shooting. The Thunder rank third in opponent’s free throw rate and second in opponent’s 3-point %.

TAKE UNDER 225.5 (-110). New to sports betting? A $110 wager on Under 225.5 (-110) pays a $100 profit if the total of Thunder-Rockets falls short of 225 combined points.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

Aside from the play-in game for the West’s 8-seed, Tuesday is the first day in the NBA restart to have less than four games on its card. Can Luka Doncic continue his dominance in Game 5 of the LA Clippers–Dallas Mavericks series? Will the Denver Nuggets stave off elimination by the Utah Jazz in Game 5?

BetMGM Sportsbook has NBA odds and NBA props for all bubble games so we’re bringing you the best bet for every day of the NBA playoffs.

Utah Jazz and LA Clippers both win (+130)

The Nuggets entered this series as BetMGM’s favorite because of the seeding, Utah’s performance in the bubble prior to the playoffs, and the injury to the Jazz’s second-leading scorer, SF Bojan Bogdanović.

But what bookmakers failed to account for in their pricing was Utah’s edge over Denver in the two things that matter most in the NBA currently: 3-point shooting and getting to the foul line. The Jazz were the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA during the regular season and are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the best 3-point % in the playoffs (.433%).

Utah the 10th-highest free throw rate in the NBA during the regular season and Denver was ranked 26th. In this series, the Jazz have attempted 102 free throws and the Nuggets have just 65 free-throw attempts.

And, yes the loss of Bogdanović hurts the Jazz, the Nuggets’ injuries are what’s doing them in this series. Donovan Mitchell is wreaking absolute havoc on Denver’s backcourt that is without SG Will Barton and SG Gary Harris.

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It’s a little surprising Luka is so effective in his first career postseason, but not shocking because the dude has “superstar” written all over him. The Clippers are without defensive menace — PG Pat Beverley — and it’s hurting their defensive scheme.

Los Angeles fully healthy is usually content switching on screens for ballhandlers, but we see what happens when PG Reggie Jackson gets switched onto Luka. Gametime. Dallas is a legitimate threat to Los Angeles and Game 5 is the time when the Clippers leader — Kawhi Leonard — puts the team on his back.

Paul George has basketball’s version of the yips: George is averaging just 15.3 points per game on .290% field goal and .222 3-point shooting. Leonard and the Clippers can boohoo later about George’s ineffectiveness but on Tuesday they’ll take back control of the series.

TAKE CLIPPERS & JAZZ IN A MONEYLINE PARLAY (+130). New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Clippers and Jazz moneyline parlay (+130) pays a $130 profit if both Los Angeles and Utah win its Game 5s. 

Get some action on this game or others by placing a legal NBA bet in CO, IN, NJ and WV at BetMGM Sportsbook.

For more NBA sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]