Clippers vs. Lakers Betting Preview
After a four-month layoff, the NBA is back! The Los Angeles Clippers battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the bubble on Thursday, July 30. These two teams are among the betting favorites to win the title, with many betting odds showing the Lakers as the team with the second-best odds to win the championship and the Clippers as the third-highest favorite to win it all.
Taking a look at the Lakers vs. Clippers odds entering the game, the Lakers are slightly favored. This lines up with a bigger picture view of how these two teams are being viewed by bettors entering the resumption of the season.
To compare Lakers vs. Clippers odds across various sportsbooks, as well as other games from around the MLB, be sure to take a look at the odds comparison tool. The odds comparison tool is a great way to shop the best Lakers vs. Clippers lines.
Lakers, Clippers Both Missing Players
The Lakers enter the game without guards Rajon Rondo (broken thumb) and Avery Bradley. Bradley opted out, citing family concerns.
The Clippers will not have point guard Patrick Beverley, who is in quarantine after visiting a strip club away from the NBA bubble. They’ll also be without 2019 Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams, who is in quarantine after visiting a strip club. Those are big losses for the Clippers. Williams averaged 18.7 points per game during the regular season.
The Lakers enter the series with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way. The team scored the seventh-most points per game during the regular season with 114.3. James will likely run the point with Alex Caruso helping fill the void with Rondon and Bradley absent. Defensively, the Lakers had the third-best scoring defense in the NBA, allowing opponents to score just 106.9 points per game.
The Clippers enter the game with their own devastating one-two punch with two-time NBA Finals MVP Kahwi Leonard and six-time All-Star Paul George. The team is expected to play Reggie Jackson extra minutes until Williams is eligible to return. The Clippers were tied for fourth in the NBA in scoring at 116.2 points per game. Defensively, they were 13th, yielding 109.7 points per game.
James, Davis, and the Lakers will likely be a popular bet because of their large fan base, but the Clippers have proven this season that they are every bit the equal of the team they share an arena with.
The Clippers took two of the three meetings straight up (SU) between the two teams in the regular season. Against the spread (ATS), it was the Clippers getting the edge, going 2-1.