Sports Betting Preview and Prediction: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers

April 19, 2015 by R Keough

“Between the Chalk”

10:30 PM ET, April 19, 2015
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Clippers (56-26, 37-44-1 ATS) come into the first round of the NBA playoffs seeded higher than the San Antonio Spurs (55-27, 41-39-2 ATS), but Vegas odds makers have the Spurs favored over the Clippers to win the championship when they begin to defend their NBA Championship tonight in Los Angeles.

Experts using bookie software such as Premier Per Head local bookmaking software online have the Spurs at 15/4 to win the title with the Clippers at 16/1. For tonight’s game, Pay Per Head agents have the spread at PK-110 with the total set at 207½.

For bettors looking to put action on the series winner using sites for local bookies like Premier Per Head PPH online bookie software the Spurs are paying -200 with the Clippers at +170.

Part of the reason the Spurs are the third favorite to win the title behind Cleveland and Golden State is their fantastic finish to the season that saw them win 21 of their last 25 games. Last years NBA Final MVP Kawhi Leonard took control of the offense scoring an average of 19.3 points per game over the Spurs final 24.

Not to be outdone, the Clippers finish was equally impressive, winning 14 of their last 15. Their last loss came on March 15th at home against the Golden State Warriors, a loss that saw Blake Griffin score 40 points and pull down 12 rebounds.

The four game regular season series was split between these two, with San Antonio winning the first two and Los Angeles winning the last two. The Clippers went into their last matchup in San Antonio on January 31st as 5-point road dogs and won convincingly 105-85.

The Clippers shot 44% from the field and held the Spurs to 37.3%, something they will need to replicate if they have a chance of advancing to the second round. The Clippers made 17 of 18 free throws, with rebound leader DeAndre Jordon making his two attempts from the line.

Pay Per Head Bookmaker Sportsbook solution agents watched Jordan make only 40% of his free throws this year, something the Spurs are very aware of, sending him to the line 28 times (10-28) in a 119-115 win for the Clippers in their last game on February 19th. Jordan however did have a team high 26 points and 18 rebounds in that one.

Prediction

It’s hard to ignore San Antonio’s playoff experience, who have reached nine conference championships and won five NBA Championships in the last 18 years, which coincides with Tim Duncan’s arrival. On the flip side, the Clippers have won a total of four playoff series in their 45-year history.

Los Angeles will put up a fight against San Antonio with superstars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, but the Spurs will be too much tonight and will take game 1 on the road.