The Clippers head to Houston for Wednesday night’s game after toiling with the Spurs on Tuesday. LA is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in the second game of its last six back-to-back situations with the Clips last defeat coming in Houston, 107-97, back on Dec. 19.
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SCHEDULING
The Clippers are coming off Tuesday’s showdown in San Antonio and open a huge five-game road trip with back to back games in the Lone Star state. Twice during this road trip the Clips will play on consecutive nights; games with Memphis and New Orleans follow over the weekend. LA will have two days off before returning to California for a matchup with Golden State. The Clippers have been good on the road all season and are one of four teams – along with the Warriors, Spurs and Cavs – to win at least 20 away from home. LA enters its road swing with a 20-11 SU and 16-13-2 ATS record away from Staples Center.
Coming off a 3-2 road trip and looking to re-establish themselves in the West, making a statement against a bruised and battered Memphis team was vital. The Rockets accomplished what they had to. Houston needed the victory, not because the Grizzlies were missing key players such as Vince Carter, Mike Conley, Lance Stephenson, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to injuries, but if the Rockets are going to move ahead in the conference, now is the time. There is no waiting to salvage something of their season; it’s time to make a move now. The Rockets are hopeful some momentum from that 130-81 thrashing carries over to Wednesday’s game with the Clippers, who they’ve beaten twice in three meetings already this season.
INJURIES
Forward Paul Pierce is nursing a big toe injury and is questionable to play at the onset of the Clippers five-game road trip. While there was talk of Blake Griffin being close to a return, the latest has the star forward still several weeks away.
Rockets forward Terrance Jones has missed six straight games with an upper respiratory infection is doubtful to play when the teams tipoff on Wednesday.
KEY MATCHUP
Point guard Chris Paul has taken it upon himself to lead the Clippers in the absence of Blake Griffin. And he’s done a damn good job. Paul was the lone bright spot for LA in its loss to Cleveland on Sunday, posting another double-double with 17 points and 10 assists in the 114-90 defeat. He’s handed out 41 dimes in three games ahead of the road trip while averaging 17.7 points over that span. Paul has been on a tear overall of late, posting 12 double-doubles in 14 games, while also draining multiple threes in 10 of those games. He figures to continue generating similar production while Griffin remains sidelined, and is now averaging 19.7 points, 12.0 assists and 2.3 steals in six March games. Paul exploited Houston’s shaky defense for 28 points on 8 of 15 shooting and 12 assists in the Clips 140-132 win on Jan. 18, numbers inflated a bit due to the game going overtime, but don’t be surprised if Paul shreds the Rockets like he’s done many times during his career.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Rockets may have gotten a little overconfident by their shellacking of Memphis on Monday. Houston nearly tied the franchise record for largest margin of victory, but had to settle for a 49-point gap against a team missing several key contributors. Still, the Rockets took care of business and rested their regulars for the entire fourth quarter. No starter played more than 26 minutes and five reserves scored in double figures. And that should help heading into Wednesday’s game against the Clippers, who played the night before in San Antonio. But LA has been good on the road this season and hasn’t lost the second game of its last six back-to-backs while going 8-5 SU overall. Houston will realize it isn’t playing Memphis’ D-league team.
Los Angeles 109, Houston 101
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets will go down Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 9:30 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
