Thursday’s Best Bet: Clippers vs. Celtics

Los Angeles Clippers (21-15 SU, 19-16-1 ATS) vs. Boston Celtics (25-10 SU, 20-14-1 ATS)
When: Thursday, December 29th, 7:30 PM (ET)
Where: TD Garden, MA, Boston
TV: NBCS

Point Spread: LAC +6/ BOS -6 (Get a Free $100 bet when you deposit $100 and use bonus code PREDICT100 at MyBookie Sportsbook!)
Total: 227.0
Money Line: Los Angeles Clippers +197/ -245

Notable Injuries

Clippers

Celtics

• Danilo Gallinari (Out) Knee

Recent Form

Heading into the game, Los Angeles is 21-15 overall. When taking to the road, Los Angeles has a mark of 10-8 and a win percentage of 56%. Currently, the team is 4th in the Western Conference. So far, they are 19-16-1 vs. the spread. In their matchup against Boston, the Los Angeles Clippers have won 2 straight games and will look to push that mark to 3 in a row.

In their upcoming game, Los Angeles will be looking to capitalize on their recent win over the Raptors. Paul George led the way for the Clippers with 23 points. Despite being 3-point underdogs on the spread, the Clippers were able to secure an ATS win.

Heading into the game, Boston is 25-10 overall. When playing at home, Boston has a mark of 14-5 and a win percentage of 74%. Currently, the team is 1st in the Eastern Conference. So far, they are 20-14-1 vs. the spread. Boston will look to stay hot in today’s game vs. Los Angeles as they are the winners of 3 straight games.

In their last game, Boston defeated the Rockets (126-102) as 15-point favorites. Jaylen Brown led the team with 39 points on 53.8% shooting. The Celtics also covered the spread with the victory.

The Historicals

In the most recent matchup between the two teams, the Clippers picked up the 113-93 win over the Celtics. Heading into the game, Los Angeles was the 4.0-point underdogs, giving them an ATS win. This has been the only matchup between the two teams this season. The ATS record across the previous five head-to-head meetings is 3-2 in favor of the Clippers. In these matchups, Los Angeles has averaged 109 points per game while allowing 104. In these matchups, the teams have put together an over-under mark of 3-2. Combined, they averaged 213 points in these games.

Analysis

This season, Los Angeles is averaging just 109.2 points per game, which places them 29th in the league. A major reason for these low numbers is the fact that they play at one of the slower paces in the NBA, at just 98.1 possessions per game. Los Angeles’ offensive attack has benefited from some hot shooting from outside. Not only are they among the league leaders in 3-pointers attempted per game, but they are 8th in 3-point shooting percentage at 37.2%. Defensively, the Clippers have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 108.39 points per game. So far, they have done an excellent job defending the 3-point arc, allowing teams to hit just 34.31%.

As the Clippers prepare for today’s game, Paul George is their leading scorer with an average of 23.7 points per game. This season, George has a field goal percentage of 45.0%. The team’s second-leading scorer is Marcus Morris Sr., who is averaging 13.4 points per game.

For the season, Boston has put together one of the top-scoring offenses in the NBA at 118.9 points per game. When looking at their style of play, the team is currently near the league average in pace, averaging 99.8 possessions per contest. Boston’s offensive attack has benefited from some hot shooting from outside. Not only are they among the league leaders in 3-pointers attempted per game, but they are 6th in 3-point shooting percentage at 37.8%. Defensively, the Celtics have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 104.48 points per game. So far, they have done an excellent job defending the 3-point arc, allowing teams to hit just 33.86%.

Jayson Tatum is the top scorer for Boston, averaging 31.1 points per game. This season, his field goal percentage is 47.7%. The team’s second-leading scorer is Jaylen Brown, averaging 27.0 points per game.

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Betting Trends

• The Clippers are 8-2 ATS in their last ten games overall.
• The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on one day’s rest.
• The Celtics are 8-2 ATS in their last ten games following an ATS win.
• The Celtics are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games playing on one day’s rest.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

The Clippers are playing good basketball and winning games convincingly. They match up really well with the Celtics and have a legit shot of winning this game straight-up. I’m betting the Clippers at +6! Question! Do you like to save money? Do you find it ridiculous to waste money? Then why are you still laying -110 odds at your bookie when you could be laying only -105 odds? It doesn’t make any sense to overpay! Make your dollars stretch farther in 2023! Bet smart by signing up for a betting account at BetAnySports!