Before we get to UFC Picks thisThe final game of the NBA’s first half will look at lot like the Western Conference’s starting five in Sunday’s All-Star Game as the Clippers visit the Lakers, with the Clippers opening as 3.5-point “road” favorites on
The Lakers returned home from a season-high seven-game road trip and beat Phoenix 91-85 on Tuesday. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 18 rebounds, Antawn Jamison added 19 points, and the Lakers survived Kobe Bryant’s four-point performance for their eighth victory in 11 games. Bryant didn’t attempt a shot in the first half and scored his first basket with 2:13 to play, finishing 1-for-8 in his lowest-scoring game since Jan. 13, 2005, when he left a game against Cleveland after six minutes with an injury. The fifth-leading scorer in NBA history had never played as many minutes (36) with just one field goal in his 17-season career.
Lakers starting forward Earl Clark scored 11 points but sat in favor of Jamison down the stretch. Clark played the Lakers’ entire road trip with pain in his right foot, with the Lakers attributing it to inflammation or tendinitis. Clark says the pain reminded him of a stress fracture from his college career at Louisville, but he intends to play through it.
The Clippers will be playing the second of a back-to-back as they hosted Houston on Wednesday. The Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will start Sunday’s All-Star Game along with the Lakers’ Bryant and Howard.
The Lakers trail the season series with the Clippers 0-2 after taking last year’s three-game series 2-1. The two teams have met 194 times overall and on 128 occasions since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles. The Lakers lead the all-time series 143-51 (97-31 vs. LAC). Overall, the Lakers have lost two season series in franchise history (1992-93 & 1974-75) to the Clippers. The Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall against the Clippers. The Lakers are 21-5 all-time against the Clippers in home games at Staples Center but had their 9-game home win streak against the Clippers snapped in their most recent meeting 11/2/12. In that one, the Clips won 107-102 behind 30 points and 13 assists from Paul. Kobe scored 38 points and Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers. The Clippers shot 50 percent and outscored the Lakers 52-36 in the paint. Despite the loss, the Lakers are still 9-1 in their last 10 home contests in this series.
Sports Picks trends: Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles. Over is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings. Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Home team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings. Clippers are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Free Sports Picks Play Lakers plus the points.
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The Lakers returned home from a season-high seven-game road trip and beat Phoenix 91-85 on Tuesday. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 18 rebounds, Antawn Jamison added 19 points, and the Lakers survived Kobe Bryant’s four-point performance for their eighth victory in 11 games. Bryant didn’t attempt a shot in the first half and scored his first basket with 2:13 to play, finishing 1-for-8 in his lowest-scoring game since Jan. 13, 2005, when he left a game against Cleveland after six minutes with an injury. The fifth-leading scorer in NBA history had never played as many minutes (36) with just one field goal in his 17-season career.
Lakers starting forward Earl Clark scored 11 points but sat in favor of Jamison down the stretch. Clark played the Lakers’ entire road trip with pain in his right foot, with the Lakers attributing it to inflammation or tendinitis. Clark says the pain reminded him of a stress fracture from his college career at Louisville, but he intends to play through it.
The Clippers will be playing the second of a back-to-back as they hosted Houston on Wednesday. The Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will start Sunday’s All-Star Game along with the Lakers’ Bryant and Howard.
The Lakers trail the season series with the Clippers 0-2 after taking last year’s three-game series 2-1. The two teams have met 194 times overall and on 128 occasions since the Clippers moved to Los Angeles. The Lakers lead the all-time series 143-51 (97-31 vs. LAC). Overall, the Lakers have lost two season series in franchise history (1992-93 & 1974-75) to the Clippers. The Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall against the Clippers. The Lakers are 21-5 all-time against the Clippers in home games at Staples Center but had their 9-game home win streak against the Clippers snapped in their most recent meeting 11/2/12. In that one, the Clips won 107-102 behind 30 points and 13 assists from Paul. Kobe scored 38 points and Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers. The Clippers shot 50 percent and outscored the Lakers 52-36 in the paint. Despite the loss, the Lakers are still 9-1 in their last 10 home contests in this series.
Sports Picks trends: Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles. Over is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings. Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Home team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings. Clippers are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings. Free Sports Picks Play Lakers plus the points.
Check out the Sports Monitor for all your Sports Picks from the Best Handicappers.
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