The Los Angeles Clippers aim for their fifth consecutive victory as they conclude their four-game season series against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. The Clippers (33-31), who have won six straight meetings with the Lakers -- including all three this season, are coming off a 113-100 triumph at Houston on Tuesday. The Lakers (27-34) dropped a 109-104 decision against Dallas two days ago, their third consecutive defeat and sixth in seven contests. They remain without Anthony Davis (ankle), while Paul George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (knee) are still sidelined indefinitely for the Clippers.
Tipoff at Crypto.com Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The Clippers are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Clippers vs. Lakers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 220.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Clippers picks, you need to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the red-hot SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 71-44 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has broken down the Lakers vs. Clippers matchup from every angle and just revealed its coveted picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the NBA odds and betting lines for Clippers vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Clippers spread: Clippers -2.5
- Lakers vs. Clippers over-under: 220.5 points
- Lakers vs. Clippers money line: Clippers -145, Lakers +125
- LAC: The Clippers are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games
- LAL: The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Clippers
Why the Clippers can cover
The Clippers' four-game winning streak consists of three victories against the Rockets and a 105-102 triumph over the Lakers last Friday. They have had four different leading scorers during the run, with Terance Mann holding the distinction in the win over the Lakers with 19 points. The 25-year-old shooting guard also grabbed 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season and first since Dec. 31 versus Toronto.
Only nine players saw action in that meeting with the Lakers, but seven scored in double figures -- including all four that came off the bench. Ivica Zubac topped the Clippers on Tuesday with 22 points and also had 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double in five games and 17th this season. It was only the second 20-point performance of the campaign by the 24-year-old Croatian center, who scored a season-high 32 in an overtime loss at Denver in January.
Why the Lakers can cover
Despite the team's current struggles, LeBron James continues to produce, and the Lakers will need him on the court if they want to end their losing streaks. The four-time NBA MVP, who is questionable with a knee ailment, ranks third in the league with an average of 28.9 points. James is coming off his 17th double-double of the campaign as he scored 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Tuesday's 109-104 loss to Dallas.
The 37-year-old James hasn't been held under 20 points since Dec. 17, when he recorded 18 at Minnesota. Veteran power forward Carmelo Anthony came up with one of his better offensive efforts of the season in the setback against the Mavericks, scoring 20 points off the bench. The 10-time All-Star is averaging 13.6 points and reached the 20-point mark for just the fifth time since Nov. 8.
How to make Clippers vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 226 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Clippers? And which side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side to back, all from the advanced model on a 71-44 run on its top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
