The Los Angeles Clippers expected to be the third-best team in the Western Conference this season, but have been surpassed by the surprising Houston Rockets. The Clippers are healthy now and hope to make their claim that they are better than Houston. even if the standings don’t show it.
The teams will face off this week in Los Angeles. With each side at full strength, this should be an intriguing showdown. The Warriors and Spurs are clearly the cream of the crop in the West but there is a legitimate question as to whether the Clippers or Rockets fit in third.
This game could help clear that up since each side will be feeling good about its chances.
This war on the floor will go down Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Wednesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Clippers are 35-23 straight up and 30-28 against the spread. They have played in 27 home games on the season and covered in 15 of them. Los Angeles has gone 19-19 against the spread as the favorite and has covered in 10 of 19 attempts as the underdog.
The Rockets are 42-18 straight up and 34-26 against the spread. They have played in 31 home games and have done extremely well, covering in 20 of them. Houston has gone 26-23 against the spread as the favorite this season and has covered in six of nine attempts as the underdog.
Injury Report
Chris Paul -- The Clippers’ star point guard missed a significant chunk of time with a thumb injury, and predictably the team did have some trouble at guard without him. However, Paul recently returned to the lineup and is a huge boost to the offense for this matchup.
He is one of the best ball distributors in the game and is averaging 17.5 points, 9.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds per contest on the season. This game is going to be high scoring, and having a player like Paul to lead the way will be a huge boon for the Clippers.
Player to Watch
Lou Williams -- The Rockets newly-acquired shooting guard has been a nice addition so far. In just two games with Houston, the former Laker is averaging 22 points per game.
He put up 27 points against New Orleans on February 23rd and scored 17 off the bench in the Rockets’ game against Minnesota. The 30-year-old is averaging 18.7 points per game on the season.
He was the Lakers’ leading scorer during his tenure with the team, a rarity for a player who comes off the bench. Williams has started off strong with Houston, and fits in perfectly as a top-notch scorer who likes to play a run-and-gun style.
He should be a solid addition down the stretch.
Free NBA ATS Pick
While the Rockets have been fantastic this season, the Clippers haven’t been too far behind without the services of Paul or star forward Blake Griffin for a significant amount of time.
They are both going to be available for this one, and with DeAndre Jordan playing like an All-Star down low, the Clippers are a formidable group, especially at home.
The Rockets, though, have taken off with coach Mike D’Antoni at the helm. James Harden is the front-runner for the MVP and Houston has done a great job of using a frenetic pace to wear down opponents.
This looks like it will be a fantastic matchup. In the end, it’s the Rockets who have the superior offense, and Jordan’s defense will be muted because Houston shoots so much from the outside.
Even with Paul, Griffin and Jordan available, the choice is for Houston to win this one on the road, and cement itself as the third best team in the West.
NBA Odds: Rockets 123, Clippers 117
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