The Los Angeles Clippers (44-20) will take on the Los Angeles Lakers (49-14) Thursday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena in Orlando, Fla., for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off (on TNT). We analyze the Clippers-Lakers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets. The Clippers owned a 39-19 lead after one period. An 11-2 run by the Lakers cut the gap to 41-30 after a 3-pointer by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope midway through the second quarter. The Lakers sliced.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers open their 2020-21 seasons Tuesday with no fans allowed at Staples Center. F LeBron James and the Lakers begin their title defense at 10 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Clippers-Lakers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Clippers at Lakers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.
Money line: Clippers +135 (bet $100 to win $135) Lakers -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
Against the spread/ATS: Clippers +3.5 (-115) Lakers -3.5 (-105)Over/Under: 220.5 (O: -110 U: -110)Clippers at Lakers: Key Injuries
Clippers
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Clippers at Lakers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Lakers 106, Clippers 101
Money line (ML)
The LAKERS (-160) are the defending champions and have the most talented roster in the NBA when all are healthy. Well, it’s the season opener and James, PF Anthony Davis and Co. are healthy and ready to begin what hopes to be a second straight title run.
Of course, the Clippers are fully healthy, as well, and few teams in the NBA may be as motivated to knock off the 2019-20 bubble champs as the one led by Fs Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers also won the first two meetings of the Battle of Los Angeles last season by a combined 15 points, including a 112-102 victory in the season-opener, but the head-to-head series ended in a split at 2-2.
The Clippers made a head coaching switch this offseason by bringing in Tyronn Lue, but James is fully familiar with his gameplan and will prove superior.
The champs will stay on top.
Also see:Best bets and predictions for 2020-21 NBA champion
Against the spread (ATS)
Clippers Lakers Lineups
Predictably, the two intra-city rivals are projected to be in a close, back-and-forth affair, even though all but one of the four meetings last year was decided by a margin greater than 5 points.
Few defenders are as well-equipped to contain James as Clippers’ Defensive Player of the Year candidate Leonard. Even if Leonard succeeds, the Lakers’ offseason additions of C Marc Gasol and PG Dennis Schroder should prove especially valuable against their expected top competition in the Western Conference. Oh, and there’s still Davis to worry about. He averaged 28.3 points per game against the Clippers last year and should again prove to be the X-factor.
Take the LAKERS -3.5 (-105) to win by at least 4 points with slightly better value than the money line.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 220.5 (-110) is my top play in this season-opening contest. Not only are all teams expected to start the season a little rustier than usual following a shortened offseason and preseason, but the Clippers will still need time to find their new identity under Lue.
All four meetings last year also played below Tuesday’s projected total. Both teams focused on the defensive end with their offseason additions and defense will prevail Tuesday.
Lakers Clippers Line Movement
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Clippers Lakers Line
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