Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Clippers
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Los Angeles Clippers will look to build off yet another impressive victory when they host the Indiana Pacers tonight. The Clippers took down the Los Angeles Lakers 99-92 for their fourth win in the last five games. The Pacers ended a two game game winning streak with a 99-86 loss at home to the Bulls on Friday. Indiana beat the Clippers 107-80 back on Nov. 18, but the Clippers have been playing much better lately. Taking a look at the spreads for this game, oddsmakers have the Clippers favored by 4.5-points over the Pacers at home.
The Pacers are just 6-11 on the road this season, and had lost nine straight away from home before they won at Philadelphia last Tuesday. This is the first of a four-game Western Conference road trip for Indiana.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 22 points in the first meeting between these two teams. Granger also had 22 points in the Clippers last game against the Bulls, but has struggled with his shot the last couple games, going just 13 for 36 from the field.
Indiana also got 18 points and eight rebounds from Roy Hibbert against the Clippers back in November, but Hibbert had just two points in his last game against Chicago.
The Clippers have won four straight at home, and it appears that this team has put those early season struggles behind them. The Clippers are 9-4 since losing t Philadelphia on Dec.15.
Eric Gordon has been a big reason why the Clippers are playing well right now. Gordon had a game-high 30 points against the Lakers, and is averaging 27.4 points over this last five games.
Also making a big contribution is rookie Blake Griffin, who recorded his 26th straight double double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. In fact the last time Griffin failed to record a double-double was against the Pacers when he had just 12 points and eight rebounds.
I think it’s pretty safe to say that Griffin is going to have a much better go this time around. Griffin is averaging 23 points and 14.4 rebounds over his last five games.
With the way the Clippers are playing lately, especially on their home floor, I think you have to lay the points and bet Los Angeles in this one. The Clippers are playing like a completely different team compared to when they first played Indiana, and I think they are going to come out and put it to the Pacers.
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