Charlotte (19-20) at LA Clippers (23-16)
When: Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
Where: Staples Center,
Los Angeles, California
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: FS Southeast,
FS Prime Ticket
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -6.5/230
The Charlotte Hornets have been struggling all season away from home, but have an opportunity for back-to-back road victories when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at Staples Center. The Hornets have split the first two games of their six-game road trip, losing 123-110 at Denver, then bouncing back the next night with a 119-113 victory in Phoenix, although they weren’t very sharp until the end. Charlotte is looking to get back to .500 tonight as they are in the middle of stretch of nine of 11 away from home, where they are 5-12 on the season. The Hornets have the benefit of playing in the worst division in the league (Southeast), as the Miami Heat lead Charlotte by just a half-game at 19-19. The Clippers are four games better than Charlotte, but sit 2.5 games behind Pacific-leading Golden State. Los Angeles has won each of their last two games and six of nine after a 106-96 victory over the Orlando Magic in the opener of the two-game homestand on Sunday. Los Angeles had one of its best defensive efforts in a month when they held the Magic to 37.1 percent from the floor. Los Angeles has covered the spread in six of the last eight meetings with Charlotte when played in Staples Center including a 106-98 victory last time out on New Year’s Eve, 2017.
Charlotte guard Kemba Walker broke out of his shooting slump in the nick of time Sunday, scoring 18 of his 29 points in the final five minutes. Walker was 10-of-31 from the floor in back-to-back losses and 4-of-12 on Sunday before hitting five of his last eight field-goal attempts in the decisive fourth quarter. The Hornets received huge contributions off the bench from Willy Hernangomez and Tony Parker, as the two combined for 39 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. Charlotte will have two days off after this game before playing in Portland on Friday.
Clippers forward Tobias Harris, like Walker, broke out of an even worse scoring slump to score 20 points after a sluggish start on Sunday before getting hot and contributing a team-high 28 points in the win over Orlando. Fellow forward Danilo Gallinari had an off night, going 5-of-16 from the floor and 2-of-10 from 3-point range. L.A. continues to play some high-scoring games, ranking fourth in scoring offense (115.7) and 24th in defense (114.3). Orlando’s 96 points was the first time in a month the Clippers held an opponent to under the century-mark.
Charlotte has won just once in their last five road games and the defense has been the problem, allowing 119 points or more in all the losses. Their only win came against lowly Phoenix, and they weren’t that sharp in that one. The Clippers should score a ton in this one and hold off the Hornets enough to get the cover.
Pick: Clippers -6.5
- Hornets are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
- Hornets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Hornets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. Western Conference.
- Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Hornets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Hornets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Hornets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Hornets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Clippers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Clippers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Clippers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Clippers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Clippers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
- Over is 8-0 in Hornets last 8 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Hornets last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-0 in Hornets last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Over is 5-1 in Hornets last 6 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 4-1 in Hornets last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Hornets last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 10-4 in Hornets last 14 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3 in Hornets last 10 Tuesday games.
- Over is 9-4 in Hornets last 13 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-4 in Hornets last 13 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Clippers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Clippers last 8 home games.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Clippers last 15 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Over is 5-2 in Clippers last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 16-7 in Clippers last 23 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 11-5 in Clippers last 16 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings in LA.
- Hornets are 5-12 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
- Hornets are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in LA.
