Los Angeles Clippers vs Houston Rockets Predictions, NBA Picks 3/5/2020

Game: Los Angeles Clippers vs Houston Rockets

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020

Location: Toyota Center in Houston, TX

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Houston -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 236

Toyota Center is the venue where Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets (39-21, 1st in the Southwest Division) will take on the Los Angeles Clippers (42-19, 2nd in the Pacific Division) on Thursday. The line on this game has Houston as 1.5 point favorites. The over/under has been set at 236.

The Clippers cover 54.1% of the time, having gone 33-28-0 ATS. Houston is covering 48.3% of the time, going 29-31-0 against the spread.

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kawhi Leonard comes into this game averaging 27.0 points per contest while playing 32.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 90%. Lou Williams averages 19.1 points per contest in 29.5 minutes per game. He averages 5.8 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook scores 27.5 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.9 rebounds per contest and has 7.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. James Harden averages 34.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.3 rebounds per game and has 7.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles averages 116.1 points per contest, which is 6th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 10th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 10th in the NBA. They average 47.8 boards per contest and 24.0 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 14th with 14.8 per game. The Clippers allow 109.8 points per contest, which is 13th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.6 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they allow 23.6 assists per game which puts them in 9th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 15th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 2nd in the NBA with 118.9 points per contest this season. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 4.63. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 20th in the league. They are 14th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.2 boards per contest and 29th in assists per game with 21.5. The Rockets are 17th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Rockets give up 114.3 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 16th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 25.4 dimes allowed per game and 28th with 47.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Rockets are 25th in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Clippers are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 107.2 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 101.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 11th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. Los Angeles is 18th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 21st in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 15th in the NBA. The Rockets are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 109.8, and their offensive rating of 114.3 is ranked 15th. They are 3rd in the NBA in pace with 103.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 6th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -1.5

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