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The Los Angeles Clippers will take on the Toronto Raptors in an interconference battle. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Clippers-Raptors prediction and pick.
There were high expectations entering the season for the Clippers, but mediocre play and injuries have Los Angeles falling short of the mark. The recent loss of star Paul George didn't help at all, as the Clippers are only 2-5 in their last seven contests. That losing streak has dropped them to the sixth seed in the West, but this game is a great opportunity to start to turn things around, though losing head coach Tyronn Lue to health and safety protocols is a bummer.
The Raptors have earned a 14-17 record over the course of the year, with a 5-5 record in their last 10 contests. Toronto has been playing solid basketball recently, so it'll be interesting to see how they match up with a playoff-caliber team.
Here are the odds for the Clippers-Raptors game, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Clippers-Raptors Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +7 (-110)
Toronto Raptors: -7 (-110)
Over: 210 (-110)
Under: 210 (-110)
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Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
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Los Angeles has mainly earned wins on the defensive side of the court. The Clippers only allow an average of 104 points per game while holding their opponents to a 44% overall shooting percentage. Those are two of the best numbers in the league, and they clearly match up well with a struggling Toronto offense. The Raptors rank inside the bottom 10 in the league in just about every offensive metric, so this is a pretty decent matchup for the Clippers.
The Clippers also have the advantage against the spread in this game. Los Angeles is 5-4 against the spread when entering the game as an underdog, and 3-2 when underdogs on the road. The Raptors are an even 6-6 when they're favored in a game, but most of those contests have come against some of the worst teams in the league.
Why The Raptors Could Cover The Spread
Despite their differences in record, these are very similar teams. Toronto also relies on its defense to propel them to wins while playing with a shaky offense. The Raptors only allow 106 points per game, and they manage that by slowing down the pace of the opposing offense. Toronto only gives up 10 fast-break points per game and 43 points in the paint per game. The Raptors have also been one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers. This defense forces their opponents to run real offense, which will be difficult for a Clippers team that is missing their best scorer in Paul George (and Kawhi Leonard, of course).
George isn't the only important injury that the Clippers are dealing with. Four out of their starting five players will likely miss this game, as guard Reggie Jackson and center Ivica Zubac are both dealing with the health and safety protocols. Starting power forward Nicolas Batum will miss this contest with an ankle injury as well. Los Angeles will be extremely shorthanded here.
Final Clippers-Raptors Prediction and Pick
It's impossible to trust the Clippers here. They're just missing too many important players, while the Raptors will be entering this game with their key players available. Take the Raptors to cover on their home floor.
Final Clippers-Raptors Pick: Toronto Raptors: -7 (-110)
