NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Friday, 1/10/14, 10:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Clippers -10.5
Current Betting Line: Clippers -10.5
Opening Total: 208
Current Total: 208.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Los Angeles Clippers F Blake Griffin is playing great basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost and failed to cover the spread in their last three games, including a 113-93 setback to the Houston Rockets as 13.5-point road underdogs Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 211.5. The Lakers are dealing with numerous injuries, especially at the guard position with Steve Blake, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Jordan Farmer all being out. Since Christmas, the team is allowing a league-worst 22.8 points per game off turnovers. The Lakers are 0-4 SUATS as road underdogs of 9.5 to 12 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Lakers are 6-12 SU on the road this season, including a 3-10 mark versus Western Conference opponents, which is important to consider when making your NBA betting picks. The franchise is 5-5 SU in its last 10 overall games in this series, while it has dropped six of 10 as the road team versus the Clippers at Staples Center. Offensively, the team is averaging 99.6 points per game, which ranks 16th in the league.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won back-to-back games, including a 111-105 victory over the Boston Celtics as 10.5-point home favorites Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total for the fourth time in five affairs. The Clippers are led offensively by forward Blake Griffin, who is the only player in the NBA averaging 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, three-plus assists and shooting at least 50 percent from the field. He has scored 25-plus points in six of his last 10 games. The Clippers are 10-4 SU and 11-3 ATS when revenging a loss versus a foe during the 2013-14 campaign.

Since the 2011-12 season, the Clippers have compiled a 12-10 SU record when Chris Paul isn’t in the lineup, as he’s out with a shoulder injury. The squad leads the league in home scoring, as it averages 109.3 points in Southern California, which is just a half point better than the Portland Trail Blazers. Expect the team to get out on the break, as it ranks in the top five in both points off turnovers and fast-break points.