The NBA Trade Deadline is today, and plenty of eyes will be on the Spurs, who are jostling for a playoff position but could likely be moving some star players and key veterans.
With deadline rumors swirling, San Antonio suffered an ugly 33-point home loss to the Clippers last night. The Spurs have to host these same Clips again on a back-to-back, currently sitting as 6.5-point NBA betting underdogs.
We try to sort through the confusions and what-ifs with our free Clippers vs. Spurs picks and predictions for March 25, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs betting preview
Injuries
Clippers: Serge Ibaka C (Out), Patrick Beverley G (Out).
Spurs: Rudy Gay F (Questionable), Lonnie Walker IV G (Questionable), Keita Bates-Diop F (Questionable), LaMarcus Aldridge C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 9-4 in the Clippers' last 13 games as a road favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Spurs.
NBA sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonLos Angeles hit TwinSpires' odds board at -6.5, hovered between -6 and -5.5 throughout the day and is at -6 as of 5:30 p.m. ET. The Clippers are landing 58 percent of spread tickets and 70 percent of spread cash. The total is stable at 222, with ticket count and money both running 2/1 on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
A big question for tonight's game is "Can the Spurs rebound after an embarrassing effort against the Clippers last night?"
But the big question for tonight's game is "Who will even take the court for the Spurs?"
With the trade deadline today, a number of veteran players could be out the door for the eighth-place Spurs. LaMarcus Aldridge is already gone (he's left the team and will either be traded or bought out), leading scorer DeMar DeRozan has been in a number of swirling trade rumors and Rudy Gay (who sat out yesterday and is questionable with a foot injury) has been traded twice in his career already and could be a candidate to be moved again.
Add in that Lonnie Walker IV (wrist) also did not play yesterday and likely won't play tonight, and this may be Spurs team that's even worse than the unit that took a 48-minute beating from Los Angeles last night.
The Clippers are currently third in the West, just one game behind Phoenix and four back of Utah for first. If they make any roster changes for tonight, it will be adding more pieces to bolster a playoff run—not selling off like their opponent tonight.
Los Angeles is 5-2 SU and ATS in its last seven games, it has covered in seven straight games on the second half of a back-to-back and, as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George didn't log heavy minutes in yesterday's blowout, they should be good to play again tonight.
We don't expect another 30+ blowout, but we do expect the Clips to cover in a game they can't afford to lose. Then again, if DeMar gets DeTraded...this could get ugly.
PREDICTION: Clippers -6.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
The Spurs have been one of the better defensive clubs this year, sitting ninth in the league at 109.8 points per game. But the offense has continued to shrivel up, as San Antonio's monthly per-game scoring averages are 113, 111.4, 109.2 and now just a paltry 106.9 points per contest in March.
And that was with DeRozan and his team-best 20.5 ppg...And he might be wearing another jersey come tonight.
San Antonio only scored 101 yesterday, yet the total went Over because the Spurs gave up a season-worst 134 points to the Clippers. That number was a little inflated, however, by the Clippers shooting a ridiculous 17 of 33 (51.5 percent) from beyond the arc—a tad above their season average of 41.6 percent on triples, and the Spurs' allowing just 37.8 percent of successful threes to fall.
The Clippers likely won't be unconscious behind the arc again, and San Antonio may not even hit 100 points tonight. This total has actually moved higher than yesterday's line, so we're going to bank on it falling somewhat Under.
PREDICTION: Under 223.5 (-110)
Team total pick
As mentioned above, the Spurs are struggling to score lately, failing to reach 109 points in seven of their last 10 games.
On the second half of a back-to-back, against a Clippers defense that has given up 110 or fewer points in six of their last seven, we don't see them magically putting up a big number on the scoreboard.
Especially if DeRozan gets moved out.
PREDICTION: San Antonio Spurs Under 108.5 (-120)
Clippers vs Spurs betting card
- Clippers -6.5 (-110)
- Under 223.5 (-110)
- San Antonio Spurs Under 108.5 (-120)
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