LA Clippers (0-0) at LA Lakers (0-0)
When: Thursday, October 19th 2017
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: LA Clippers -2.5/217
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The Lonzo Ball era begins in Los Angeles as the Lakers host their in-house rivals the L.A. Clippers on Thursday night to tip-off the NBA season for both clubs. The Lakers also have a new front office led by Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and a revamped roster that includes No. 2 overall draft pick Ball. Lonzo, 19, joins swingman Brandon Ingram, 20, and forward Julius Randle, 22, in a promising young core, and he is expected to start the opener after missing time in the preseason with a sprained left ankle. The Clippers, who will serve as the visitors in the arena shared by both teams in their season opener on Thursday, have a new look as well after waving goodbye to point guard Chris Paul over the summer. The Clippers are breaking in their new point guard as well in defensive specialist Patrick Beverley, who came over from the Houston Rockets in the deal that sent away Paul. Beverley will share the point with Milos Teodosic, who came over to the NBA from Europe after leading Serbia to a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics, and Austin Rivers, who sat out most of the preseason with a hip injury but is expected to be ready Thursday. The Clippers have taken three straight and 14 of the last 15 in the series.
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The Clippers may take a step back this season with the departure of Paul, but Los Angeles did manage to keep another of its stars by signing power forward Blake Griffin to a five-year, $173 million extension. Griffin averaged 21.6 points and 8.1 rebounds last season but only played in 61 games – the third straight season in which he failed to reach 70 games. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan led the league in field-goal percentage (71.4) last season while ranking third in rebounding (13.8). The Lakers had the league’s third-worst scoring defense in 2016-17, allowing an average of 111.5 points, and made a pair of moves to help that by bringing in veteran center Andrew Bogut and swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers also added a scoring threat in the middle with center Brook Lopez, who averaged 20.5 points for the Brooklyn Nets last season and attempted 387 3-pointers – 356 more than in the first eight seasons of his career combined.
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The Clippers have owned the Staples Center in recent years, but the Lakers are starting to close the gap and will be competitive with their rivals all season. I will probably take the points in this matchup every time they play. Look for the Lakers to pull off the upset tonight.
Pick: Lakers +5
- Clippers are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Clippers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Clippers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Lakers are 17-38 ATS in their last 55 Thursday games.
- Lakers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Lakers are 4-14-1 ATS in their last 19 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Clippers last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Over is 5-1 in Clippers last 6 Thursday games.
- Over is 7-2 in Clippers last 9 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Under is 5-2 in Clippers last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Clippers last 10 road games.
- Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 overall.
- Under is 6-0 in Lakers last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 Thursday games.
- Under is 21-9 in Lakers last 30 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Over is 30-13-2 in Lakers last 45 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
- Under is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
- Over is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.
