Free NBA Pick: Clippers vs. Lakers NBA Odds
Looking for LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Clippers taking on the Lakers on Thursday, October 20th, 2022 at the Crypto.com Arena. 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-Lakers matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(0-0) LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (0-1)
Date: Thursday, October 20th, 2022
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
NBA Moneyline Odds: Clippers -250 | Lakers +175 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Clippers -5.5
NBA Betting Total: 223.5
Thursday, October 20th the LA Clippers open their season facing fellow Crypto.com residents the Los Angeles Lakers who are technically hosting the game.
The Lakers opened their season in San Francisco on ring night with the Warriors thoroughly beating them and offering ample fodder for pundits who cited the issues of this roster all offseason.
All-time the Lakers hold the advantage of winning 150 of 231 matches, however, the recent success lies with the Clippers who swept the four game season series in 2021-22.
LA Clippers
After a year on the sideline, Kawhi Leonard will return to the hardcourt. When Leonard and his running mate Paul George came to LA they believed it would equate to copious NBA Finals trips and titles.
That’s been far from their reality. Year one, they seemed to be rolling along but buckled to the pressure in the Orlando bubble succumbing to the Denver Nuggets in the semi-finals.
A season later, Leonard looked like his Finals MVP self and led the Clippers past the Mavericks in seven games but got injured in the next series which turned out to be a torn ACL.
He sat the entirety of 2021-22 and while he’s back with the same objectives it’s important the Clippers make a deep run in the postseason and take advantage of their superstar’s prime (failure to reach the Conference Finals will be viewed as a failure).
The team is well-positioned to do just that with arguably the deepest roster in the association, two bonafide All-Stars, and a top-tier coach.
Isaiah Hartenstein was the only key player to exit this offseason (Knicks) while the key addition was John Wall who sat the entirety of last season on purpose as the Rockets developed their youth and tanked to try for the top draft pick.
Reggie Jackson is expected to play although he’s been nursing a sore groin.
Los Angeles Lakers
While the sponsors’ desires are for a strong Lakers team given the market, opening night offered up evidence this 2022-23 iteration isn’t a title contender.
Sure, they were facing the defending champions but Darvin Ham couldn’t ask for much more from his Big 3 which points to how thin this roster is. LeBron James and Anthony Davis took just over half the Lakers’ shots (47 of 93) scoring 58 of their 109 points.
Russell Westbrook created a stir stating the reason his hamstring tightened up the game prior was he’s not used to coming in off the bench. Ham apparently bought that excuse (coupled with injuries) and started the enigmatic guard but he delivered.
Westbrook took only 12 shots making seven of them, grabbed 11 boards, dished three assists and grabbed a steal. He was committed to playing defense too – so this was about as good as Ham could ask for from Russ and they still got pummelled.
Thomas Bryant (thumb sprain) and Dennis Schroder (ligament) both had surgery to repair their injuries and will miss at least three weeks. Bryant will be re-evaluated at that point while Schroder will be out for three to four weeks.
Troy Brown Jr. (back) remains out and is expected to miss a few weeks.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- The Lakers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games.
- Over is 4-0-1 in the Clippers’ last 5 road games.
- Over is 10-4 in the Lakers’ last 14 overall.
- Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings between the clubs.
Free LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Prediction:
These two teams have commonalities as both have two All-Star superstars on their roster and each has a former All-Star point guard known for their speed (Westbrook and Wall).
But their differences are massive and it feels like only one LA team will be in the playoff mix for the top seeds this season.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Clippers ATS
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