New York Knicks at Los Angeles Clippers NBA Picks & Predictions 3/2/2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New York Knicks travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 2, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 8 point favorites.

The Knicks head into this matchup with a mark of 24-38. They are 4th in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of -2.6 as they are averaging 104.2 points per contest while giving up 106.8 per game. The Clippers have an overall record of 32-27. They currently are 2nd in the Pacific Division. They are averaging 108.6 points per game and surrendering 107.9, good for a point differential of 0.7.

Valuable New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 29-33-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 32-29-1 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 34-26-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Clippers are 31-28-1 against the over/under

Key New York Knicks Injuries

02/07/18 F Kristaps Porzingis ACL is out for season

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

11/22/17 PG Patrick Beverley Knee is out for season
03/01/18 F Danilo Gallinari Hand is "?" Friday vs New York
02/23/18 G Avery Bradley Groin is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Courtney Lee averages 12.7 points per game in 31.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.7 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game for New York. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 94%. Tim Hardaway comes into this contest averaging 16.8 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Knicks. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%.

Player Spotlight

Tobias Harris averages 18.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Lou Williams averages 23.2 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per contest this year for the Clippers. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per game and has 5.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Knicks allow 106.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 17th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they give up 23.5 assists per contest which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the league. New York averages 104.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 20th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.58 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 24th in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 22.9 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 9th with 15.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Clippers surrender 107.9 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 20th with 23.9 assists allowed per contest, and 23rd with 44.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Clippers are 19th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per game this season. Los Angeles is 7th in the league with 108.6 points per game this year. They are 10th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 0.73. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They are 15th in the league in rebounding with 43.7 boards per game and 21st in assists per contest with 22.2. The Clippers are 10th in turnovers per game with 15.

Advanced Statistics

The Knicks are 21st in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.9, and their defensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 24th. As a team they are 22nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. New York is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 13th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 21st in the NBA. The Clippers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 109.7 is ranked 15th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 98.8 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 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take New York +8

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