Clippers Stay in Los Angeles to Face the Lakers Friday Night

The two Los Angeles teams are set to face off on Friday night. The Clippers, fresh off a huge win over the Houston Rockets, face the Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers are trying to claw their way up in the Western Conference. They’re currently at the No.8 spot but could do with a better position. Avoiding the play-in games for the playoffs is something they’ll want to do.

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a win of their own over the Utah Jazz. The Lakers are in ninth-place and hoping to steal a win from the Clippers. If they can do that, they can get a step closer to taking over the eighth-place position. If not, they’ll be in danger of falling behind in the conference. So, between these two California teams, who should you take on Friday night?

Game Preview: Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers February 25th

Injuries are the only thing holding the Clippers back, but they’re doing what they can to persevere. Without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, they’ve had to rely on players such as Marcus Morris Sr. to lead the team. Morris Sr. recently put up 27 points in the Clippers’ win over the Houston Rockets. The Clippers won the game 142-111, their highest point total this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have the tenth-ranked offense in the NBA, averaging 110.91 points per game. The cohesion is starting to look better for the Lakers, but they aren’t quite there yet. There’s still a ways to go and they’re still without Anthony Davis, which could be a problem. The Lakers haven’t done well against the Clippers in the past. Now, let’s talk about the potential lines.

Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction

This game is very likely to have narrow margins since these teams are evenly matched. These teams last faced in early February, the Clippers narrowly won 111-110. In that match, the Clippers were favored by 3.5-points, the spread will likely be very similar here. It could swing in favor of the Lakers considering they’re at home. This season the LA Lakers are 18-13 at home.

Something that’s important to remember is that the Lakers are 6-17 when playing as underdogs. This isn’t to say they can’t cover the spread though, just that they aren’t likely to win. Over their last ten games against each other, the Lakers have gone 3-7 against the Clippers. The more you take a look at the trends, the answer becomes clearer. The Clippers are a better bet.

One of the main reasons we say this is that the Clippers play better as a team. The Lakers have struggled to play together, especially with Russell Westbrook. With the team chemistry in shambles, it’s a much smarter pick to take the Clippers. These teams have also historically hit the under more often, pairing that with the Clippers is your best bet.

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.