Clippers, Celtics Look to Exploit Other’s Misery

The Los Angeles Clippers begin a three-game eastern swing Wednesday night, first stop Boston. The Clippers recently lost Paul George to an elbow injury, which hurts doubly considering the team is already without Kawhi Leonard.

Not surprisingly, the team has lost five of their last six games to fall back down to .500 after 34 games.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are losing games and chemistry, 1-3 in their last four outings amid some locker-room squabbles.

That makes this showdown tricky to handicap if you bet online. Let’s take a closer look at this NBA game betting preview and see the better side to play.

• Game: Los Angeles Clippers (17-17) at Boston Celtics (16-18)
• Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Day/Time: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Television: NBCS-BOS

Los Angeles Clippers at Boston Celtics

Carrying the Clippers is…?

LAs with seemingly every other team in the league right now, the Clippers are without some of their assets. Nicolas Batum, George, Leonard, Reggie Jackson and Isaiah Hartenstein are all out against Boston.

Brandon Boston, Luke Kennard Terrance Mann and other younger players are needed to contribute.

Boston has had some nice games since George’s injury, but needs to keep improving his overall game., while Mann has been doing just that.

Veterans of this activer roster (Marcus Morris, Eric Bledsoe, etc.) also have to help steady the Clipper ship.

Can the Celtics Come Together?

There’ve been whispers of locker-room discord dating back to the beginning of the season. Recently, something slipped out like that again.

Al Horford claimed that the players on the roster need to look at themselves in the mirror after another disappointing loss, a statement Jaylen Brown seemingly scoffed at when he heard about it.

This group hasn’t played like a team that likes one another and it’s showing on the court. With Jayson Tatum (health/safety protocol) and Marcus Smart (right-hand laceration) not expected for this game and Dennis Schroder remaining out, Brown and Horford have to rally the team together.

It hasn’t looked to work. If these chemistry issues don’t get under control soon, they’ll probably suffer another loss here.

Celtics Look To Capitalize On Depleted Clippers Roster

The sportsbook has listed the Celtics as the 5 1/2 -point favorite in this game, likely because they are the only team in this contest with a star player still left standing (Jaylen Brown).

He has been one of the most consistent players, but has also had some ‘iffy’ efforts. Los Angeles really doesn’t have anybody to consistently make the big-time shot at the end of the game.

However, they play with a lot of heart and haven’t had any sniping in the face of all the absences.

The Celtics should be able to win this game outright, though it doesn’t seem that they can get the job done by at least six points (for the NBA odds), given how poorly they have played lately and the fact that they’re without Tatum.

Parlay: Clippers +5 and Under 209½ at +264

Pick: Under 209½

Pick: Clippers +5½