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After clinching a playoff berth on Friday, the Brooklyn Nets return to action on Sunday with an intriguing cross-conference battle against the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George lead the way for the Clippers, with the Nets operating in short-handed fashion. Caris LeVert (rest), Joe Harris (groin) and Jarrett Allen (ankle) are listed as doubtful for Brooklyn, and Jamal Crawford (hamstring) is out. 

Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET in Orlando. William Hill lists the Clippers as 13-point neutral court favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 228 in the latest Clippers vs. Nets odds. Before you make any Nets vs. Clippers picks, check out the latest NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned well over $4,200 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 54-32 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $1,900 on those picks alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Clippers vs. Nets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Nets vs. Clippers:

  • Clippers vs. Nets spread: Clippers -13
  • Clippers vs. Nets over-under: 228 points
  • Clippers vs. Nets money line: Clippers -1100, Nets +700
  • LAC: The Clippers are 10-3 against the spread in the last 13 games
  • BKN: The Nets are 7-4 against the spread in the last 11 games

Why the Clippers can cover

Though Brooklyn's offense is vastly improved in Orlando, the Nets struggle mightily on defense with their current roster. For the full season, the Nets rank second-to-last in the NBA in forcing turnovers, playing into a strength for the Clippers, and the team doesn't have many options to defend the length of Leonard and George. 

Overall, the Clippers are a top-three offense in the NBA this season, with elite metrics in free throw creation, offensive rebounding and points scored per possession. Even with Brooklyn's uptick on offense, the Clippers are also in a strong defensive position. Los Angeles boasts a top-five defense in the NBA this season, and the Clippers are No. 2 in the league in shooting efficiency allowed. More than anything, the Clippers are the more talented team and, even on a back-to-back, they have the edge. 

Why the Nets can cover 

Though the Nets are at a significant disadvantage in overall talent, Brooklyn has over-performed in the Orlando bubble. Jacque Vaughn's team ranks as an above-average offense on a per-possession basis and, in Disney-only games, the Nets rank No. 2 in the NBA in assist rate. 

One of Brooklyn's weaknesses is a propensity to give the ball away on offense but, against a Clippers team that ranks in the bottom-10 in turnover creation, that could be muted. Brooklyn also plays at a blistering pace, which could make the Clippers, who prefer a slower style, uncomfortable at times. 

How to make Nets vs. Clippers picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with Brooklyn missing its top scorers and Leonard projected to fall short of his scoring average. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Clippers vs. Nets? And which side of the spread hits well over 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nets vs. Clippers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $4,200 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.