NBA Sunday's Early Tips
By Kevin Rogers
Clippers at Thunder – 1:00 PM EST
One week ago, Los Angeles ran out San Antonio as five-point underdogs in a 105-85 rout. The Clippers have fallen apart since that victory, dropping three straight games, including back-to-back double-digit losses on national television to the Cavaliers and Raptors. Following a 105-94 setback at Cleveland on Thursday in which the Clippers trailed by as many 32 points, Los Angeles jumped out to a 20-point first half lead at Toronto. However, the Raptors stormed back to beat the Clippers, 123-107 to pull off the season sweep of Los Angeles.
The Thunder fell at the buzzer to the Pelicans on Friday night, 116-113, as Oklahoma City has split its past 10 games. Russell Westbrook put up a season-high 48 points in the loss, one game after scoring 45 points at New Orleans in Wednesday’s victory. Kevin Durant returned from a toe injury that kept him out four of the previous five games, as the scoring champion shot just 9-of-26 from the floor for 27 points. OKC dropped to 1-7 ATS in the past eight games, while posting an 0-4 ATS mark in the last four opportunities as a favorite.
Doc Rivers’ squad has been a disaster away from Staples Center recently, covering three of their previous 14 road games since mid-December. The Clippers are 2-5 ATS this season as a road underdog, but the two covers have come in the past month in victories at Portland and San Antonio. L.A. didn’t lose three straight games last season, as the Clips have won 12 of 16 times off a defeat this season.
Oklahoma City has put together an incredible 7-2 SU mark after allowing at least 110 points in its previous game, but has covered just three times in this situation. The Thunder has struggled as a home favorite since mid-December, compiling a 1-7-1 ATS record in the past nine tries.
The Thunder knocked out the Clippers in six games of the second round of last season’s playoffs, as the underdog cashed five times in that series. Los Angeles exacted revenge in the season opener at Staples Center, holding off OKC, 93-90, but Westbrook left the game with a broken right hand and Durant was sidelined with a foot injury. The short-handed Thunder managed a cover as 12 ½-point underdogs, but the Clippers have cashed in three of the past four visits to Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Lakers at Cavaliers – 3:30 PM EST
There have been several lengthy winning streaks in the NBA this season (Atlanta – 19, Golden State – 16), as the latest hot stretch came to a halt on Friday. Cleveland compiled a 12-game winning streak to get back on track following a six-game skid with LeBron James on the sidelines. The Cavaliers blew a 13-point lead in Friday’s 103-99 setback at Indiana as six-point favorites, failing to capitalize off Thursday’s home victory over the Clippers.
Cleveland is rolling at home of late by winning eight consecutive contests at Quicken Loans Arena. David Blatt’s club has covered seven times during this stretch, while cashing the ‘under’ six times as not one opponent scored more than 98 points. The ‘under’ is 7-1 in the last eight games overall for Cleveland, while the Cavs have won eight of 10 games this season as a home favorite against Western Conference foes.
The Lakers have dropped 12 of their past 13 games, capped off by an overtime setback at Orlando on Friday, 103-97. This loss especially burned L.A. backers, as the Lakers failed to cover as 4 ½-point underdogs in spite of building a 14-point halftime lead. Byron Scott’s team lost its second straight game in overtime, as the Lakers squandered a 14-point edge in Wednesday’s defeat at Milwaukee as 9 ½-point ‘dogs. L.A. has struggled in the final contest of a road trip of least two games, putting together a 2-4-1 SU/ATS record in this situation.
The last time these teams met up at Staples Center last month, the Cavaliers snapped a six-game skid to hold off the Lakers, 109-102 as six-point favorites. James put up 36 points, while Cleveland overcame 9-of-30 shooting from three-point range. In spite of the loss, the Lakers converted 51% of their attempts from the floor, while Nick Young knocked down a three-pointer to get L.A. within four with 10 seconds remaining. James helped secure the cover for the Cavs by drilling two free throws and Tristan Thompson made one final free throw to clinch the ATS victory.
The Lakers have lost 13 of their previous 14 road contests, while going 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine games away from Staples Center. Los Angeles is riding a 6-2 stretch to the ‘under’ in the past eight games overall, as the Lakers are 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS against Eastern Conference opponents on the road.
