Free NBA Pick: Clippers vs. Nets NBA Odds
Looking for LA Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Clippers taking on the Nets on Saturday, January 1st, 2022 at the Barclays Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Clippers Nets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(18-18) LA Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets (23-10)
Date: Saturday, January 1st
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
NBA Moneyline Odds: Clippers +550 | Nets -606 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Nets -11
NBA Betting Total: 213.5
Saturday, January 1st finds the LA Clippers facing the Brooklyn Nets in their second and final meeting of this campaign. Brooklyn won the initial meeting 124-108 on December 27th.
The Clippers arrive in Brooklyn to finish a mini three-game road trip with a win in Boston and a loss on Friday to the Raptors. The Nets played the 76ers Thursday in a 102-110 loss.
Last season, the squads played twice with the Nets taking both contests. The Nets hold the advantage all-time having won 52 times of the club’s 95 meetings.
LA Clippers
Paul George is out resting torn ligaments in his elbow and LA missed his presence as well as Ivica Zubac and coach Ty Lue who entered protocols in Toronto.
LA wasn’t going to get much empathy from the Raptors who are now the lone team playing without fans due to a Canadian government decision.
Moreover, it was only the fourth time this season the Raptors’ core trio (Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby) were all playing and even then Scottie Barnes was out.
LA stayed in the match with hot 3-point shooting but didn’t have enough variety or other weapons to pull out the win. They’ll need to make improvements, particularly on the glass as they were outrebounded 54-37 by Toronto and annihilated on the offensive glass (18 to 3).
In fairness, these are Raptors strength categories but imagine if the Nets replicate the 21 to 3 second-chance scoring opportunities LA gave up to Toronto. That alone would decide the game.
The quartet in protocols (Ivica Zubc, Jay Scrubb, Brandon Boston Jr., Moses Wright) plus Jason Preston (foot), and Nic Batum (ankle) are all questionable for Saturday.
Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle), George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (knee) are all out.
Brooklyn Nets
The big news this week was Kyrie Irving attended a Nets practice session, but don’t get too excited because he still can’t play at Barclays
It will require some time to assess whether playing only road games has a greater positive impact than sticking with their original decision to not have a different set of rules for one player.
Irving said everyone welcomed him with open arms, but I’ll remind you he also said there weren’t any problems in Boston when there clearly was. Ultimately, I think the Nets will follow the man they view as the leader and true star (Durant) and if he’s good with it they will be too.
This week the Nets lost again to a team with a .500 or better record (76ers) and while they were dealing with protocols both Durant and Harden played on Thursday.
To put this issue in perspective, Brooklyn is 6 -8 versus that upper echelon tier while the Raptors are 7-10 (with four of those matches lost by one to five points).
There is no denying Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving offer unprecedented offense and while the Nets boast a top-five defense each of the Bulls, Heat and 76ers offer two-way capabilities that is more reliable and boast big wins against that same elite tier.
Day’Ron Sharpe and Kessler Edwards (both in protocols) are questionable for Saturday while Joe Harris (ankle surgery) is out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LAs’ last 7 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Brooklyn’s last 7 games.
- The Nets are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
- The Clippers are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games.
Free LA Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA Prediction:
Brooklyn has the rest advantage and more importantly is playing a team that flew into New York on New Year’s Eve. What are the odds the players went straight to their hotels and to sleep? Not great.
I even waffled on LA keeping the spread close but then remembered James Harden is in the Big Apple on NYE too so I’ll take LA to keep the match closer than 11 points.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Clippers +11
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