Blake Daniels, March 2, 2023

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Pacific Division rivals collide at the Chase Center on Thursday night when the LA Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers are 33-31 SU on the season and they are currently in the 6th spot in the Western Conference team standings. LA is however tied with the Warriors in percentage points in the Conference rankings. The Clippers have lost three in a row and are just 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played.

The Warriors are on the rise with three straight wins. Golden State is 32-20 and they are just one game off the 4th-seeded Phoenix Suns and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The Dubs have won three in a row and they are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played.

LA Clippers

The Clippers are winless since acquiring Russell Westbrook. They also have new players like Mason Plumlee, Eric Gordon, and Bones Hyland whom they are trying hard to integrate into Ty Lue’s system. LA has dropped its last three games played and needs to win this to get back on track.

During last Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota, Paul George led the Clippers with 25 points while Kawhi Leonard added 23. Russell Westbrook had a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists while Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell contributed 12 and 13 points, respectively.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors continue to play very well at home as they blew out the Portland Trail Blazers 12-105. The Dubs are now 25-7 SU at home this season and they have won their last three games to catch Portland in the team standings.

Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 29 points while Klay Thompson had another big game with 21 points, an output that was matched by Donte DiVincenzo. Kevon Looney and Draymond Green combined for 26 points while Jonathan Kuminga scored 16 points off the bench.

LA Clippers vs Warriors SU Prediction

The Clippers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games played against the Warriors. LA is also 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played in Golden State.

LA Clippers SU trends:

• The Clippers are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games played.
• The Clippers are 18-16 SU in their last 34 games played on the road.
• The Clippers are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played in March.
• The Clippers are 3-1 SU in their last 4 Thursday games.
• The Clippers are 16-8 SU in their last 24 games as favorites against the Western Conference.

Golden State Warriors SU trends:

• The Warriors are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games played.
• The Warriors are 8-1 SU in their last 9 games played at home.
• The Warriors are 4-7 SU in their last 11 games played against the Pacific Division.
• The Warriors are 4-2 SU in their last 6 home games against their division rivals.
• The Warriors are 16-3 SU in their last 19 home games against the Western Conference.

Two teams considered contenders in the West meet in a crucial game. Three consecutive losses by the Clippers and three straight wins by the Warriors have put them in a virtual tie for 5th place in the Western Conference team standings. That means the loser here drops to sixth and could face complications with teams below them starting to make their moves.

These teams have split their first two meetings of the season with the 4th one scheduled for March 15 in Los Angeles. If the two teams end up in a 2-2 tie, the Clippers will have the tiebreaker advantage so Golden State needs this one probably more than LA.

Steph Curry has returned to practice for the Warriors. He has missed their last 9 games with a partially torn ligament on his leg. Curry isn’t expected to play here but should the Dubs win on Thursday, they will likely have him back when they meet again on March 15.

Klay Thompson has picked up the slack without Curry. Thompson is now ranked second behind Buddy Hield in three-pointers this year. Klay had 21 as the Dubs beat the Blazers the last time out. Jordan Poole led Golden State with 29 points while Draymond Green added 12 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in an all-around effort.

Meanwhile, the Clippers are winless in three games with Russell Westbrook. Despite adding Westbrook, Mason Plumlee, Eric Gordon, and Bones Hyland, the Clippers have come out of the All-Star break with a 2-OT loss, OT defeat, and a disappointing 108-101 setback against the Timberwolves the last time out.

Despite their 0-3 stretch, the Clippers have seen their stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 60.3 PPG during that span. Leonard has especially been hot as he’s shot 58.3% from the field in those 3 games. Both have combined to shoot over 50% from deep during this period. Still, the rest of the team needs to do better if they are to arrest this slump and get back on track.

There’s no question that the Clippers are the more talented team right now. But with so many new key pieces, this team will figure things out on the fly. I agree with the Clippers that this is not yet the time to panic. However, they are sacrificing playoff position to get things going.

Meanwhile, the Dubs are playing well right now. There are no chemistry issues on this team and the offense is humming even without Curry. Golden State has played excellent at home, just not outside it. This one’s played as Chase Center however so you have to pick the Dubs.

Prediction: Golden State Warriors

LA Clippers vs Warriors ATS prediction

The Clippers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Warriors. LA is also 3-2 ATS in their last five road games played in Golden State.

LA Clippers ATS trends:

• The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
• The Clippers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
• The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
• The Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Clippers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games versus a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss.
• The Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games played in March.
• The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games against the Pacific Division.
• The Clippers are 10-9 ATS in their last 19 road games against the Western Conference.

Golden State Warriors ATS trends:

• The Warriors are 35-16-1 ATS in their last 52 home games.
• The Warriors are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Warriors are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win.
• The Warriors are 36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 home games against a team with a winning road record.
• The Warriors are 21-43 ATS in their last 64 Thursday games.
• The Warriors are 2-5-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The Warriors are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games played in March.
• The Warriors are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Pacific Division.

The LA defense has struggled as of late while the likes of Thompson and Poole are heating up for the Dubs.

The Dubs are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played overall and are 12-0 ATS in their previous dozen home games as betting underdogs. Meanwhile, the Clippers have only covered twice in their last 8 games played. LA is also 12-18 ATS in their last 30 games after a loss.

Both teams have excellent depth and when it comes to superstars, the Clippers have the edge. However, the Warriors have the championship experience. They also have Thompson and Poole who can light up the scoreboards, especially at home.

Prediction: Warriors

LA Clippers vs Warriors  Over/Under Prediction

The total has gone over in three out of the last four head-to-head meetings between these two teams. The under is 3-2 in their last five meetings played in Golden State.

LA Clippers over/under trends:

• The over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last 5 overall.
• The over is 20-6 in the Clippers’ last 26 road games.
• The over is 4-1 in the Clippers ‘last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last 5 road games versus a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• The over is 18-7-1 in the Clippers’ last 26 road games against a team with a winning home record.
• The under is 9-3 in the Clippers’ last 12 games following an ATS loss.

Golden State Warriors over/under trends:

• The under is 4-0 in the Warriors’ last 4 overall.
• The under is 4-1 in the Warriors’ last 5 home games
• The under is 4-0 in the Warriors’ last 4 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-0 in the Warriors’ last 4 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-0 in the Warriors’ last 4 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-1 in the Warriors’ last 5 games. a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The over is 12-4-1 in the Warriors’ last 17 Thursday games.
• The under is 3-1-1 in the Warriors’ last 5 home games versus a team with a winning road record.
• The over is 21-8-3 in the Warriors’ last 32 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The over is 18-7-1 in the Warriors’ last 26 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.

The Warriors play at a fast pace and they like to put up a lot of points on the scoreboard to win games. The Golden State defense has struggled this season and they rely more on scoring to win games. With Poole and Thompson firing from all cylinders as of late, the Dubs’ scoring machine is tough to stop.

The Clippers have seen the total hit an average of 259.6 points per game in their last five games played. But this includes the 176-175 loss against the Kings just recently. Meanwhile, the total has averaged 244.5 in the last two meetings between these two teams.

Golden State is no. 1 in pace while their defense is just ranked 18th. That leaves scoring easier for the Clippers too. I expect a shootout here.

Prediction: Over 231.5