Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 3/15/2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Clippers head to Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 11.5 point favorites.

The Clippers head into this matchup with a mark of 37-29. They are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.4 as they are averaging 109.4 points per contest while giving up 108.0 per game. The Rockets have an overall mark of 53-14. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 113.7 points per contest and giving up 104.7, which is a point differential of 9.0.

Valuable Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 36-30-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Clippers are 35-30-1 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 36-30-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 29-37-1 against the over/under

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

11/22/17 PG Patrick Beverley Knee is out for season
03/03/18 F Danilo Gallinari Hand is out indefinitely
02/23/18 G Avery Bradley Groin is out for season

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

03/12/18 F Ryan Anderson Hip is "?" Thursday vs LA Clippers

Player Spotlight

Lou Williams comes into this game averaging 23.1 points per contest while playing 32.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Tobias Harris averages 18.5 points per contest in 33.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.2 assists per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest for Los Angeles. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul has scored 18.8 points per contest while playing 31.9 minutes per game this season for the Rockets. He hauls in 5.4 rebounds per contest and has 8.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 92%. Eric Gordon averages 18.4 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.4 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles averages 109.4 points per contest this year, which is 7th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.41 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 7th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 25th in the NBA. They average 44 boards per contest and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 19th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 11th with 14.8 per game. The Clippers allow 108 points per contest which is 22nd in the NBA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 9th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.8 rebounds a game which ranks 21st, and they allow 24.2 assists per game which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 2nd in the NBA with 113.7 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 9.01. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 13th in the league. They are 17th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.4 boards per contest and 23rd in assists per game with 21.7. The Rockets are 16th in turnovers per contest with 14.1. The Rockets give up 104.7 points per game, which ranks them 12th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 18th and 11th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 22.9 dimes allowed per game and 2nd with 41.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets are 19th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Clippers are 7th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 16th. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 9th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA. Los Angeles is 14th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 19th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 12th in the NBA. The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 115.8 is ranked 23rd. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Clippers/Rockets NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -11.5

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