The No. 6 San Antonio Spurs (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) failed to close out their series and now must win a deciding seventh game on the road against the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) Saturday. You can watch the game live on TNT.
Just like we predicted the series is going the distance after the Spurs failed to close out the Clippers on their own floor Thursday, dropping Game Six 102-96. Across nearly two weeks the series has delivered everything as predicted: torture for those involved and excitement for everyone else. Now the Spurs must win one more time at Staples Center to continue their run as defending champs.
The Clippers can claim the biggest win in franchise history Saturday two days after what is now the club’s greatest victory. Facing elimination on the Spurs floor the Clippers did what they had to do and now, by virtue of their one-game difference in the regular season standings, get the deciding seventh game at home. Not that it means anything in this series with both teams going 1-2 on their home court.
KEY INJURY
Clippers reserve forward Glen Davis suffered a sprained ankle in the third quarter Thursday and was taken to the team’s locker room in a wheel chair. His status for Saturday’s game is unknown. Davis had two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes and played for DeAndre Jordan to avoid the incessant fouling of the Clippers 37 percent free throw shooter.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“In the second half he was just on the attack. He was more aggressive. Somehow I still have to get on him. It’s amazing because he’s a great player, but trying to convince him he’s a great scorer, especially in this series, has been difficult.” – Clippers coach Doc Rivers on Chris Paul
BETTING TRENDS
- San Antonio is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 road games.
- Los Angeles is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 home games.
- The UNDER is 4-10 in Los Angeles’ last 14 home games.
KEY STATS
1: San Antonio has won just once in a Game Seven on the road in its history.
13: Clippers Blake Griffin (13.4) and DeAndre Jordan (13.0) are the first teammates to average 13 rebounds in a series since Spurs’ David Robinson and Dennis Rodman in 1995.
23: Spurs reserve guard Marco Belinelli scored a team-high 23 points Wednesday going seven for 11 from three-point range.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
San Antonio is playing a Game Seven in the first round for the second straight year. The Spurs went on to their fifth championship last season after defeating the Mavericks at home, but they are just 1-3 in the seventh game of a series on the road in their history. Their failure to eliminate the Clippers Thursday could mean the end of an era. “Our execution at the offensive end was really poor. There’s no excuse for it. We should be embarrassed at the way we came out for a close out game,” coach Gregg Popovich said. The Spurs got great production from Boris Diaw and Marco Belinelli Thursday but need Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to contribute more for a Game Seven victory.
The toughness and resolve of the Clippers have been questioned for years. They now have a chance to silence the talk with a stirring series win over the defending champions. They also have a chance to do something no other Clippers team has done – win a best-of-seven series when trailing 3-2. The Clips didn’t play their best game, neither did San Antonio, but they were smarter down the stretch, made good decisions and got a bit lucky. Coach Doc Rivers will likely shorten his bench even more with Glen Davis questionable and fatigue could be a factor. Rivers handled the minutes nicely for his club Thursday and Blake Griffin responded by having a big fourth quarter.
It’s anyone’s guess as to who holds the edge in Game Seven. The Spurs have already shown the ability to win on the road but could have just blown their best chance at closing things out. The Clippers have the necessary confidence but are playing a team that rarely losses two playoff games in a row. The spurs have a championship pedigree but just depended on two role players to carry them in a close out game. The Clippers have the stars but not the role players. We might as will flip a coin for this one and it comes up Clippers.
Los Angeles 107, San Antonio 103
The NBA odds for this game will first open at BookMaker sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. 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 contest pitting the San Antonio Spurs versus the Los Angeles Clippers will commence Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
