Clippers Vs. Lakers NBA Return Betting Pick – Odds & Tips

There have been 141 days since we had a meaningful NBA game. Thankfully, the NBA betting is back with a phenomenal matchup between the LA Clippers and LA Lakers.
It will be the fourth matchup between both sides this season. The Clippers lead the series 2-1, but the Lakers won the last time they met. The issue is there have been so many days in between their previous meeting, nothing in the past matters.
Let’s breakdown one this matchup between two NBA title contenders:
Top Online Sportsbooks To bet On The NBA Return
What The Odds Say About The Clippers vs. Lakers Matchup
Clippers | vs. | Lakers |
---|---|---|
+160 | Moneyline | -190 |
+4.5 (-110) | Spread | -4.5 (-110) |
O 216 (-110) | Total | U 216 (-110) |
Bet On Clippers vs. Lakers NBA Game At MyBookie.ag |
Across most sportsbooks, the Lakers are a -4.5 favorite over the Clips. The opening number had them as small favorites, at -1.5. The scrimmages played in the last few days, and some news coming out of the Clippers locker-room changed the line. The game total has dropped from a 220 opening number to 216 at most sportsbooks.
Game Information
- Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
- Game Time: 9:00 PM ET
- TV: TNT
- Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Kissimmee, FL
The Clippers’ form to face the Lakers
By this time, you probably have heard that the NBA mandated that Clippers guard, Lou Williams, undergo a 10-day quarantine. He left the league’s bubble for a personal matter and had dinner in a strip club in the middle of the pandemic. The NBA was not happy about it.
Strip clubs do be having good food 🤷🏾♂️
— Alfonzo McKinnie (@_Alvo_) July 26, 2020
Williams won’t be in the Clippers’ first two-game of the restart of the season. Without Lou, the Clippers will miss 18.7 points per game coming off the bench. He is the team’s third-best scorer behind Kawhi Leonard (26.9 PPG) and Paul George (21.0 PPG).
Right before the NBA hiatus, the Clippers won seven of their previous nine games. Despite those stats hardly matter, the good thing is the team was looking great with the additions of Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson.
Kawhi Leonard
One thing that worries me is the shooting slump from Kawhi Leonard during the Clippers scrimmages. He scored just 12 of 46 shots in scrimmage play (26.1%). He also went six of 27 in three-point attempts (22.2%).
Am I overly concerned about it? Of course not. But it’s something to keep an eye on. I would expect Leonard to drive to the basket often if his shot isn’t falling early in this contest.
The Lakers’ form to face the Clippers
The Lakers will also look somehow different from the team that played for the last time on March 10. The team won’t have point guard Rajon Rondo for the remaining eight games of the regular season after undergoing thumb surgery. There is no timetable on his return.
Another name that won’t be around is Avery Bradley. He opted out of the season for personal reasons. Bradley is a key loss, especially his defensive efforts.
The Lakers will try to maximize LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ skills during the next few months to aim for the NBA title. We all know that. But the difference between winning and losing might be on how much the secondary cast can contribute.
Dion Waiters And JR. Smith
Dion Waiters and JR. Smith are two knuckleheads with the ball in their hands. They can give the Lakers unreal games out of nowhere, or potentially lose key matchups if coach Frank Vogel and LeBron trust them a little too much.
The Lakers’ bench is the biggest concern for the meeting against the Clippers and also the rest of the season.
Davis (26.7 PPG) and James (25.7 PPG) will have no trouble scoring baskets in the next few months, but there’s a considerable drop when you look for a third scorer.
PF Kyle Kuzma (12.5 PPG) is that third guy, but there are valid questions about his performance when he doesn’t share the floor with LeBron. No player feeds off James more than Kuzma.
Clippers Vs. Lakers Re-Start of the NBA Season Prediction
The absence of Lou Williams is a big deal, but the Clippers have enough depth to cover him for a couple of games.
The Lakers’ bench is a more significant concern for me. Also, not having Rajon Rondo should hurt the offense more than they want to admit.
William’s dumb move to go for wings at a strip club might help us. I think there is value grabbing the Clips now.
Even without Sweet Lou, the Clippers can end up winning this game straight up. Take advantage of the inflated number and bet the Clips +4.5.