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The NBA is back! The first games of the season have been giving fans everything they've wanted. Upsets, close games, competition at the highest level, basketball has returned. The Los Angeles Clippers will hit the road and take on the Golden State Warriors. This highly anticipated West Coast battle is one you won't want to miss. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Clippers-Warriors prediction and pick.
The Clippers may be without their star, Kawhi Leonard, but they are still a very good team. They made a deep run in last year's playoffs, ultimately losing in the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers are always competitive and will look to start their season off with a victory on the road. The Warriors had an impressive debut against the Lakers. Taking down one of the top title contenders, coming back and winning 121-114.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the Clippers-Warriors odds for Thursday night's matchup.
NBA Odds: Clippers-Warriors Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +3 (-110)
Golden State Warriors: -3 (-110)
Over: 225.5 (-110)
Under: 225.5 (-110)
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Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
The Clippers have been extremely competitive during the regular season for years now. While they may not have found a lot of success in the playoffs, they have figured out how to win games during the season. They won 47 games last year and will look to continue that success. Injuries will definitely impact this team. Being without Kawhi is a huge loss for the team. However, they are deep enough and have the talent elsewhere to be able to pick up the slack.
Leading the charge for the Kawhi-less Clippers is Paul George. The All-Star small forward is entering his 12th season in the league. He has been one of the most consistent players in the league during the regular season. He managed a career-high in assists last year and has been averaging over 20 points a game since 2015. While he may disappoint some fans in the playoffs, Paul George is still a beast. He will be the main option in this matchup.
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The Clippers are also one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Los Angeles has managed to construct a roster that has balance and depth. When the Warriors B-squad takes the floor, LA will look to capitalize. One of the bright spots for the Clippers has been the emergence of Ivica Zubac. The Clippers acquired Zubac from the Lakers back in 2018 and that has proven to be a great move. The 24-year-old center has consistently shown improvement and will look to cement himself as an integral part of this Los Angeles team.
Why The Warriors Could Cover The Spread
The Warriors had an okay 2020 season, but things seem to be improving. They have already taken care of the other LA team and will look to complete the feat with a victory on Thursday night. Golden State has started to provide a sample size that impresses. The team came together on Tuesday night to take down one of the top title contenders in the league.
Against the Lakers, Curry struggled. Steph actually managed to put up a triple double against LA, but he was not shooting the ball well. Curry was an atrocious 5-21 from the field. On a night when the best scorer on the team wasn't hitting his shots, the Warriors managed to score 121 and defeat a very tough opponent. This is an encouraging sight to Warriors fans. There is more to this team than just Steph Curry, and that was on display against the Lakers.
Steph's poor scoring performance left room for his teammates to pick up some of the offensive burden, and they did. Jordan Poole, the other starting Warriors guard, scored 20 points. While Warriors fans eagerly await Klay Thompson's return, they will be happy to see that Poole can fill in during his absence. Beyond Poole, Nemanja Bjelica balled out for the Warriors. Bjelica notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, shooting an extremely efficient 6 for 7 from the field. The Warriors look like the real deal this season and with a full roster, they should be able to take down the other Los Angeles team.
Final Clippers-Warriors Prediction & Pick
This rivalry is for real and Thursday night's matchup should be an exciting one for fans. But without Kawhi, the Clippers just aren't a team that can compete against the best in the NBA. The Warriors have already proved themselves to be legit this season with their road victory against the Lakers. Pick Golden State to win and cover. The over isn't a bad option either. 225.5 combined points is pretty low in today's NBA and the Warriors offense is hot. That said, lock in the Warriors for this matchup and get ready for some great basketball.
FINAL CLIPPERS-WARRIORS PICK: Golden State Warriors -3 (-110)
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Warriors 124 – Clippers 110
