The Spurs are locked in to the No. 2 seed in the West no matter what happens the rest of the way, which could lead coach Gregg Popovich to resting some of his important players in this game and others down the stretch.
San Antonio would normally be a sizable favorite at home in this matchup against the Clippers, but personnel changes could sway the spread greatly, so keep a close eye on which players are available.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ABC.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Saturday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Spurs are 60-18 straight up and 40-37-1 against the spread. San Antonio has played in 40 home games on the season and has covered in 19 of them. The Spurs are 36-36-1 against the spread as the favorite this season. San Antonio would normally be favored in this one but could be the underdog if some of its stars sit in this matchup.
The Clippers are 47-31 straight up and 37-41 straight up. Los Angeles has played in 40 road games this season and has covered in 18 of them. The Clippers are 11-11 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
Scheduling Situation
The Clippers are breathing down the neck of the Utah Jazz for the No. 4 seed and have won four in a row. Los Angeles finishes the game with home games against the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, and need to win as many as they can to catch Utah.
Los Angeles battled injuries early in the year but has hit its stride of late. The Clippers have more star power than Utah and more individual talent, but the Jazz plays elite defense. These two teams seem to be on a collision course in the first round, but home court advantage is still on the line with just a few games left in the regular season.
Player to Watch
Kawhi Leonard -- The Spurs’ star could have the biggest impact on this game despite the fact that both sides have several All-Star caliber players. He is averaging 26.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.83 steals per contest, able to impact the game on both sides of the ball.
He could get several different assignments on defense, ranging from the Clippers’ wing players to point guard Chris Paul. He will also be counted on to score points against a Clippers defense which can be tough behind center DeAndre Jordan.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Spurs are once again one of the best teams in the NBA, and are expected to push the Golden State Warriors for supremacy in the playoffs. The Clippers would love to make some noise in the postseason, and the first step is getting home court advantage to have a better chance against the Jazz.
This one all comes down to what kind of lineup the Spurs put on the court. If Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and the rest of the starters see significant minutes, San Antonio should win this game. However, the hunch here is that the Spurs rest some of their players, which will give the Clippers the ability to come away with a crucial win.
The scoring total will also be affected by which players are in this contest.
NBA Odds: Clippers 103, Spurs 91
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
