by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Jan 20, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Where to watch: BSSW-SA, BSSC, ClipperVision
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Clippers -7
FanDuel: Clippers -7
BetMGM: Clippers -7
Caesars: Clippers -7
Season record
Clippers: 23-24
Spurs: 14-31
We’re nearing the halfway mark of the season in the NBA and it’s been quite the ride so far. Al McMordie is cashing hard at 22-15-0 in the last 30 days, while Doc’s Sports has also had a strong run of form as of late at 14-10-0 (+$3,000). If they’ve been killing it as much as they were in the first half, what does the second half have in store? The only way you’re going to find out is by staying locked on bigal.com and following what our champion handicappers are up to heading into the final 41 games. Trust us, you want to know.
Clippers - Spurs preview, prediction and analysis
The Los Angeles Clippers will be playing the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, January 20 in San Antonio, Texas.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost against the Utah Jazz last Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah with a score of 126-103. The Los Angeles Clippers currently rank 2nd in the Pacific Division. Norman Powell led Los Angeles with 30 points, and Zubac added 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“Offense ran through me tonight, so I just wanted to make the reads and the situations — whether it was to be aggressive for my shots or create for my teammates,” Powell said.
The Clippers just can’t find a way to find consistency. Whether it’s because Kawhi Leonard and Paul George aren’t in the lineup, or the depth is really that bad, they can’t find a consistent way to win. The Clippers are just 2-8 in theri last 10 and are only 2-8 against the spread. The only saving grace for the Clippers is they’re going to San Antonio and things are bound to get better when you’re playing the lowly Spurs.
The San Antonio Spurs won against the Brooklyn Nets last Tuesday, January 17 in San Antonio, Texas with a score of 106-98. The San Antonio Spurs currently rank 4th in the Southwest Division. Keldon Johnson had a career-high 36 points and 11 rebounds. Jeremy Sochan added 16 points.
“A ton of energy, a ton of confidence, that’s who Keldon is,” San Antonio rookie forward Jeremy Sochan said. “He is great. We all trust him.”
Johnson was 11 for 26 from the field, including two key baskets in the fourth quarter. He hit a 3-pointer following a missed 3 by Seth Curry, giving the Spurs an 87-82 lead. One possession after Nic Claxton blocked his dunk attempt, Johnson threw down a one-handed dunk for an 89-82 lead.
“It felt great. I can’t lie,” Johnson said of his late 3. “They called timeout right after that. I was hyped. My coaches and teammates put the ball in my hands, and I just make something happen.”
Unlike the Clippers, the Spurs have also won just two of their last 10 but have covered a lot more, going 7-3 against the spread in that stretch. The Spurs beating the Nets outright is a clear sign that things are wrong in Brooklyn, but what a character win at home for Gregg Popovich’s group. This is a team that continues to find ways to impress even when the world isn’t watching the Spurs anymore. It’s truly a great sight to behold.
Prediction
But even if there are questions involving injuries, the Clippers are still a much better team. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Clippers rested some against the Spurs to not risk something, and I’d be more inclined to take San Antonio. But asking the Spurs to win two in a row lately doesn’t seem to help the cause. Clippers 113, Spurs 100
Betting trends
Spurs are 0-10 ATS against Pacific Division teams this season.
Clippers are 2-13 ATS off a road loss by 10 or more the last 2 seasons.
Clippers are 28-15 ATS after failing to cover in 5 or 6 of the last seven the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Clippers:
PG: Terance Mann
SG: Paul George
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Marcus Morris
C: Ivica Zubac
Spurs:
PG: Tre Jones
SG: Romeo Langford
SF: Keldon Johnson
PF: Jeremy Sochan
C: Jakob Poeltl
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
