Having just taken care of business against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers are starting to show NBA bettors what they can expect to see once the postseason comes around. Tyronn Lue’s squad might even get better moving forward with the newly acquired Rajon Rondo yet to make an appearance since coming over at the trade deadline. Patrick Beverley and Serge Ibaka are also set to return to the lineup at some point. The same can’t be said of the Los Angeles Lakers who are expected to continue struggling at least up until Anthony Davis and LeBron James can return from their respective injuries and play worry-free. With that, it’s tough to envision the defending champs being even remotely competitive when the Tinseltown rivals square off at online sportsbooks in Sunday’s nationally televised broadcast. But can they cover?
This Pacific Division battle is set to go down live on Sunday, April 4, 2021. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from the Staples Center. The game will be broadcast live on ABC. We'll have NBA odds available at BookMaker.eu for this and every game on Thursday’s NBA slate.
NBA Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The Lakers have amassed a grand total of two wins through five games since LBJ succumbed to the high ankle injury that’s likely to keep him sidelined until mid-May. The two wins came against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic; a pair of teams that’ve combined for 32 wins and 61 overall losses. The three defeats came against the playoff bound Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns and possibly playoff bound New Orleans Pelicans. They lost those matchups by a total of 43 points! With that, it’s pretty safe to surmise that LA simply just doesn’t possess the firepower to hang with the big boys right now. While the Lakers have won 16 of their 26 played games in the Staples Center, they’ve only managed to go 11-15 ATS in those matchups. On top of that, they’ve lost and failed to cover the closing NBA odds each of the last four times it opposed a +.500 opponent.
Los Angeles Lakers
In the absence of both All-Stars, Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroeder have taken their respective games to the next level. In the two wins against the Cavs and Magic, the former logged double-doubles in each with an average of 21 points and 10.5 rebounds. The latter led the team in scoring against Orlando with 24 points on 7 of 14 shooting, and proved to be a multi-stat contributor against Cleveland with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Each must bring its “A” game to the hardwood on Sunday afternoon for the Lakers to have any shot of covering what’s likely to be an inflated spread. Kyle Kuzma showing up would also be nice for Frank Vogel and his staff.
Los Angeles Clippers
Dominant. That’s the only adjective worthy of describing LA’s outing against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. After getting outscored 38-26 through the first 12 minutes of play, the Clippers put it in overdrive to cruise to a sixth straight win and cover ultimately outscoring Milwaukee by 36 points to log the impressive 129-105 come-from-behind triumph as 2-point home dogs. And to think that was done without Paul George. Since falling at home to the Nets as 6.5-point favorites at the end of February, the Clippers have won and covered each of their last six home games by an average of 13.2 points per game!
Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles Prediction
The end result of this tilt will ultimately come down to how determined the Clippers will be to rub the Lakers faces in it. With it sandwiched in between matchups against the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers – two teams ranked amongst the Western Conference’s top-six seeds – it’s entirely possible the Clippers decide to mail this one in. Linemakers will have no choice but to post an absurdly high impost with the betting public likely to hammer Kawhi and company at all costs. So instead of going with the crowd and siding with what looks to be a surefire winner, we’ll take as many points as we can get and hope the Lakers complimentary players can play a competitive brand of ball that allows for the team to stick close all the way through.
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