Saturday, April 19, 3:30 PM on ABC

Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday afternoon, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers will start their 1st Round Western Conference playoff series. During the regular season, the teams faced each other 4 times with the teams splitting the series at 2 – 2.  Three of the games were double-digit victories for the winner with just one game decided by just 2 points. The home team won each game and that could prove to be an important factor in this series.

The Golden State Warriors shot the lights out the entire season and they expect to continue in the postseason.  Riding one of the best seasons in the team’s history, they will look to continue their playoff success after last season’s trip to the Western Conference semifinals. Behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA.  And they pickup points at the free throw line too.   If they get hot from the field early, it will put a strain on the Clippers’ defense.

The Los Angeles Clippers have lived a long time in the shadow of Los Angeles’ other basketball team but now circumstances have put them solely in the city’s playoff spotlight.  It’s been a long time coming and the sense is that the Clippers want to enjoy the attention as long as they can.  Last season, they didn’t make it past the 1st round of the playoffs.  This season Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been two of the NBA’s best and if they continue playing at that level, they should be able to take Game 1.

ATS Trends

Golden State is 23-18-0 ATS on the road this season

Golden State is 16-24-1 against the over/under on the road this season

Los Angeles is 21-20-0 ATS at home this season

Los Angeles is 21-20-0 against the over/under at home this season

Injuries to Watch

Golden State

11/02/13 C Festus Ezeli Knee out indefinitely
04/14/14 C Andrew Bogut Ribs out indefinitely

Los Angeles

04/17/14 F Danny Granger Hamstring is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. Golden State
04/16/14 F Blake Griffin Suspension Served probable Saturday vs. Golden State

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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