LA Clippers (37-17) at Boston (37-16)
When: Thursday, February 13th, 2020
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Boston -1
We have just two games on the NBA schedule tonight and that will be it until next Thursday as the league is hitting the All-Star Break this weekend. TNT will showcase a potential Finals preview when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. This is the second and final regular season meeting between the clubs and the first one went to overtime. Back on Nov. 20, both teams shot less than 42 percent from the field and the Clippers road Lou Williams’ 27 points off the bench to a 107-104 overtime victory. It was the fourth consecutive win for L.A. in the series and they are 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings. The Clippers are 1-2 on their current four-game road trip after a 110-103 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday. Point guard Patrick Beverley (groin) has missed each game on the trip and is questionable for Thursday. The Celtics roll was slowed a bit after a 116-105 road loss at the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Boston had won seven in a row and 10 of 11, but had trouble with Houston’s small lineup and shot just 43.5 percent from the field. Both teams are in third place in the respective conferences, with the Celtics trailing second place Toronto by 2.5 games and L.A. one back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 2 spot.
All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard made his first trip to Philadelphia as a member of the Clippers since he eliminated the Sixers from last year’s playoffs with a four-bouncer at the buzzer. Leonard recorded 30 points and nine assists against the 76ers and has reached the 30-point mark in 10 of his past 13 contests, while making multiple 3-pointers in his last seven games. Williams was just 5-of-15 shooting for 13 points versus Philadelphia and he is hitting just 34.4 percent of his shots in the last 11 games. Point guard Landry Shamet was one of six players in double-figures Tuesday with 19 points off the bench. The Clippers will host Sacramento on Feb. 22.
Leading scorer and All-Star Jayson Tatum (22.1) was limited to 15 points against Houston to halt a streak of five games with at least 25 and nine contests of at least 20. Fellow guard Jaylen Brown is still dealing with an ankle injury but managed to log 33 minutes on Tuesday and scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and has 20 or more points in six of the last 10 games. He is listed as questionable for Thursday’s contest versus Los Angeles. Brad Wanamaker scored 11 points in 20 minutes off the bench versus the Rockets and is averaging 6.6 points on the season. Boston will begin a four-game road trip in Minnesota right after the All-Star Break.
This should be a great game to end the first half of the season on. The teams have almost identical records and the spread is basically a pickem. Recent trends favor the Clippers in this series and I say they bounce back and end the road trip with a 2-2 mark.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 59-50-3 on the season after a 12-7 run!
Pick: Clippers +1.5
Clippers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Clippers are 24-7 ATS in their last 31 games following a straight up loss.
Clippers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Clippers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Clippers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Celtics are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-0 in Clippers last 4 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-0-1 in Clippers last 5 Thursday games.
Under is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 9-2 in Clippers last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 4-1-1 in Clippers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 24-8 in Clippers last 32 games as a road underdog.
Under is 11-4 in Clippers last 15 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 8-3 in Clippers last 11 road games.
Under is 7-3 in Clippers last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 home games.
Under is 6-2 in Celtics last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Celtics last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 overall.
Under is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Celtics last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 21-8 in Celtics last 29 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 7-3 in Celtics last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4 in Celtics last 13 Thursday games.
Clippers are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston.
Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Clippers are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
