New York had hopes of making the postseason when the season began but has floundered and is destined for the lottery. Los Angeles will be a heavy favorite since it gets this one at home and shouldn’t have much trouble taking care of business.
The Knicks’ best hope may be to simply cover the spread, as an upset seems unlikely.
This war on the floor will go down Monday, March 20, 2017, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The game will be televised live on TNT.
We'll have NBA odds available for this and every game on the NBA Monday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Clippers are 40-27 straight up and 33-34 against the spread. Los Angeles has played in 31 home games this season and covered in 16 of them. The Clippers are 21-24 against the spread as the favorite on the season.
The Knicks are 27-41 straight up and 35-33 against the spread. They have gone on the road 35 times and have covered in 16 of them. New York is 24-22 against the spread as the underdog this season.
Injury Report
The most important injury to watch is that of Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, who is dealing with a thigh contusion. He has sat recently, but it’s not a super serious injury, so he may be back for this game.
Keep tabs on Porzingis, because his presence could certainly shift the spread by a couple of points. The second-year forward is averaging 18.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.03 blocks per game. He is one of the few building blocks moving forward and Porzingis hopes to keep developing during a lost season.
If Porzingis doesn’t play, Willy Hernangomez could get the start. He is averaging 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest and could see an increase in those numbers if he is needed for a heavier dose of minutes.
Key Stat
2.5. That’s how many games the Clippers sit behind the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed in the West. They missed out on a chance to pull even in a recent game in Utah, and it will now be an uphill battle to catch the Jazz.
If the Clippers finish as the No. 5 seed, they will likely lack home court advantage in any postseason series. If they struggle down the stretch there is also the chance they drop to the No. 6 seed as the Oklahoma City Thunder is on its tail.
The Clippers didn’t have the services of star guard Chris Paul or star forward Blake Griffin for stretches this season, but now that everyone is healthy, the team needs to start making up some ground in the standings.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Clippers have never played well enough this season to become a legitimate title contender, and that is disappointing to their fanbase. However, this game is not going to be too tough.
The Knicks have some big names but lack cohesion and don’t have enough talent to stay with Los Angeles. If Porzingis doesn’t play New York will be missing a crucial weapon.
Either way, the Clippers are the more talented team and should come away with the victory. Check the spread because it could be pretty large. If it’s too high, the Knicks may be able to cover, but Los Angeles shouldn’t have very much trouble coasting to this victory.
The scoring total may be high since the pace of play could be quick.
NBA Odds: Clippers 115, Knicks 103
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!
