Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/15/2018
Monday, January 15, 2018
Staples Center
Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.
The Houston Rockets travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, January 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.
The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 30-11. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.1 as they are averaging 115.0 points per game while giving up 106.9 per contest. The Clippers have an overall record of 21-21. They currently are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 107.3 points per game and surrendering 106.8, good for a point differential of 0.5.
Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends
The Houston Rockets are 20-20-1 against the spread
The Houston Rockets are 21-19-1 against the over/under
Important Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends
The Los Angeles Clippers are 23-19-0 against the spread
The Los Angeles Clippers are 24-17-1 against the over/under
Key Houston Rockets Injuries
12/31/17 G James Harden Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/12/18 F Luc Mbah a Moute Shoulder is upgraded to "?" Monday vs LA Clippers
01/10/18 C Nene Hilario Knee is OUT Friday vs Phoenix and is OUT Monday vs LA Clippers
Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries
12/12/17 F Danilo Gallinari Gluteus is out indefinitely
11/22/17 PG Patrick Beverley Knee is out for season
01/13/18 C DeAndre Jordan Ankle is "?" Monday vs Houston
01/04/18 PG Austin Rivers Achilles is out indefinitely
Player Spotlight
Chris Paul averages 18.6 points per game in 31.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 9.2 assists per contest and 5.7 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%. Eric Gordon comes into this contest averaging 19.7 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 2.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%.
Player Spotlight
DeAndre Jordan averages 11.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 14.9 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 66% and his free throw percentage is 60%. Lou Williams averages 23.1 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per contest this year for the Clippers. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 91%.
Useful Team Statistics
The Rockets allow 106.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 22nd and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.1 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they give up 22.4 assists per contest which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 15 turnovers per game which ranks them 19th in the league. Houston averages 115 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.02 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 11th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 22.5 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 16th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 10th with 15 per game.
Useful Team Statistics
The Clippers surrender 106.8 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 23.8 assists allowed per contest, and 19th with 43.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Clippers are 16th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season. Los Angeles is 8th in the league with 107.3 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 0.5. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They are 15th in the league in rebounding with 43.4 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.3. The Clippers are 12th in turnovers per game with 14.9.
Advanced Statistics
The Rockets are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 107.2, and their offensive rating of 115.2 is ranked 17th. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 99.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 3rd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA. Houston is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 10th in the NBA.
Advanced Statistics
Los Angeles is 13th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league. The Clippers are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 109 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 12th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 12th in the league.
Who will win tonight's Rockets/Clippers NBA game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take Houston -5
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Guy Bruhn
Get all of Today's Free NBA Picks & Expert Advice
Get all of Today's NBA Best Bets