LAL vs LAC NBA Hoops Handicapping
Both the Clippers and Lakers will be without their best offensive players, when the two rivals face off at the Staples Center on Friday night. [ad-4468020]
Date/Time: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, Jan.10, 2014
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Broadcast: ESPN
Spread: Clippers -10
Over/Under: 208.5
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That may be a bigger problem for the Lakers (14-22) whose woes continue as the team struggles without veteran point scorer Kobe Bryant. The Lakers have lost nine of the their last 10 games without him, while allowing average of 120 points in their last three defeats.
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Forward Nick Young has stepped in to try and help to stop the bleeding, scoring 20 or more points in nine of the last 13 games, while center Pau Gasol has posted four consecutive double-doubles and is averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds during the stretch. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been able to translate into wins for the Lakers.
Nevertheless, Young should be able to give the Clippers some fight, especially as the Clips will be without their second leading scorer Chris Paul, who recently suffered a shoulder injury and is not slated to return until sometime in February.
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The Clippers (25-13) are 2-1 since Paul was injured, and will have to rely again on the play of Darren Collison who has stepped in, averaging 16.7 points in 6.3 assists during the stretch.
Meanwhile, power forward Blake Griffin continued his dominance with a season-best eight assists to go along with 29 points and six rebounds in Wednesday’s victory over the Boston Celtics.
The Clippers may also get a boost from the return of guard J.J. Redick, who might play for the first time since being injured on Nov. 29.
The team will just have to to make sure they get him the ball in the right spots.
Matt’s Prediction:
The Clippers won all four meetings last season before the Lakers ended that run with the season-opening win, beating their rivals 116-103 on Oct. 29.
You can always expect a playoff atmosphere every time these two teams tangle, regardless the standings and I expect this one to be no different.
And while the Lakers hold the edge in bench points contribution, the Clippers outshoot them and play better defense.
Clippers 107, Lakers 97
