LA Lakers at LA Clippers NBA Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info

It’s the battle for Los Angeles to tipoff NBA betting action on Saturday afternoon — a betting alternative to the early NFL playoff game — when the Lakers “travel” to face their Staples Center co-tenants, the Clippers. It’s only the second meeting between the rivals thus far.

LA Lakers at LA Clippers NBA Lines, Betting Pick & TV Info

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— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 13, 2017

When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 3:30 PM ET Where: Staples Center TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA TV Radio: Lakers / Clippers NBA Odds: Clippers favored by TBA

Why Bet on Lakers?

Lakers coaches and players alike have raved about rookie Brandon Ingram’s work ethic this season. He of course was the No. 2 overall pick out of Duke. Ingram has played better of late, averaging 15.0 points (on 62.5 percent shooting), 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 3-pointers over his last three games. “When you have that type of work ethic and you can play basketball the way he can,” coach Luke Walton said, “he’s going to continue to get better and better at different things.” Los Angeles is looking in the trade market to improve the young team. The Lakers had talks about Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap and expressed interest in Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel, but the problem is the Lakers no plans to trade anyone from their young core. The Lakers have not included D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle or Ingram in trade discussions and are unlikely to consider trading Jordan Clarkson or Larry Nance Jr. One problem: the Lakers don’t have anyone else teams would want. Nick Young might have some value as the veteran is 11th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage at 42.9% and has hit 48 three-pointers (48-99, 48.5%) over the last 13 games. The Lakers bench is 1st in the NBA in scoring. The Laker bench has only been outscored by the opposing second unit nine times this season. The Lakers are 7-0 when shooting 50.0% or better from the field and 4-1 when holding the opposition under 40.0% from the field this season. The Lakers are 7-1 when holding the opposition under 100 points in 2016-17.

Why Bet on Clippers?

The Clippers entered the New Year on a six-game losing streak but have since won five straight. They were last in action Wednesday at home and beat the Magic 105-96. J.J. Redick had 22 points and hit five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Wednesday marked the 13th time that Redick scored at least 20 points without a turnover since January 2015. The only players with more such games over that span are Kawhi Leonard (20), Klay Thompson (16) and LaMarcus Aldridge (14). Marreese Speights scored 10 of his 13 in the fourth, including three 3-pointers, on a night when the Clippers committed 21 turnovers. DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds (to go with 10 points) for his NBA-leading sixth game with 20 or more. Chris Paul had 18 points. Paul surpassed 13,000 minutes played in a Clippers uniform in the first quarter, the 10th player in team history to do so. The Clips remain without star power forward Blake Griffin but Coach Doc Rivers said Griffin (knee) feels great and his original timetable is still accurate: “He feels great. He told me that he’s felt as good as he’s felt in a long time. I think that the four to five weeks … it’s still that.” Griffin has been getting some shots up and is coming along just fine. He was ruled out for 4-6 weeks back on Dec. 20, so it’s possible he’s back this month. Prior to the injury, the five-time All-Star was averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season on a true shooting percentage of 54.3 and a Player Efficiency Rating of 22.32. The Clippers had won 11 straight vs. the Lakers but lost 111-102 “at” the Lakers on Christmas. Young and Timofey Mozgov scored 19 points apiece for the Lakers. The losing streak was tied for the Lakers’ longest against any team since moving to Los Angeles a half-century ago, and it was the Clippers’ longest active winning streak against any opponent. Paul and Griffin were both out injured.

LA Lakers at LA Clippers Betting Pick: Clippers

The Clippers have won eight straight at “home” in series and will make it nine.