NBA preview and tips: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
- George Dempsey
- 15 March 2023
The Los Angeles Clippers (36-33) welcome the Golden State Warriors (36-33) to Crypto Arena for a star-studded affair that should be a blockbuster of a game in Tinseltown.
We've covered the Warriors a few times recently and spoken about the difference between their performances at home and those on the road.
In San Francisco, Golden State are a formidable 29-7, but on their travels, that flips to a dismal 7-26. For whatever reason, the Warriors just haven't been able to put their stamp on many road games.
They've allowed 123 points per game on their travels and even with the shooters they have, you can't win many games by leaking that number every night. When the sides last met here, the Clippers won 134-124.
The Clippers are a team that just haven't performed to the best of their ability this season either. Their 18-15 home record should be better, but they've been hampered by injury.
Kawhi Leonard is a key player on both ends of the court and he's missed around 40 per cent of the Clippers' games, whilst they've also had issues with Paul George missing quarter of their games.
Russell Westbrook is the third star on this team and whilst the Clippers are a deep side with plenty of talent in reserve, you can't miss your best players that often and win. It's been a battle to have the three of them on the court together consistently.
Over the past three games of their current home stand, the Clippers have been healthy and had all three on the court for each game. George and Leonard put up 34 and 42 respectively against Memphis, but LA moved on to beat the Raptors 108-100 and the Knicks 106-95.
They've been flexing on both ends of the court and it seems like they're healthy and timing their final push for the playoffs well.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have won two straight themselves, but they both came at home. They're on an 0-8 SU and 0-8 ATS run on the road, losing seven of those games by at least five points.
The Clippers have earned an extended break since their wins and that puts them in an interesting spot, as they're a solid 27-8 ATS when playing on three or more days of rest.
Victory for either side could move them a game further clear of Minnesota in seventh spot, and a game closer to the Suns in fourth spot, so there's still a decisive home-court advantage to be gained if either side can put a run together.
Golden State are just 16-33 ATS on the road against a team with a winning home record and there's nothing in their previous trips to play-off teams that give you the confidence to back them against such a small number.
Suggested Bet
Clippers -2
Match starts at 7pm PST (10pm EST, 2am UK time)
