Clippers Visit Slumping Knicks Squad
The Los Angeles Clippers are playing without their two best players as both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are sidelined. If you bet online, you know that Leonard has yet to play a game and George has missed the last 16 contests.
The Clippers can’t seem to get themselves over that .500 hump, winning four of their last seven games. As for the New York Knicks, they are stumbling into this matchup.
They have lost their last three games. Could we finally see them break the streak here? Let’s take a look at this NBA game betting preview to see who has the edge in the sportsbook.
Game: Los Angeles Clippers (23-24) at New York Knicks (22-24)
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Day/Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Television: MSG
Los Angeles Clippers vs. New York Knicks
Clippers Rely Heavily on Nicolas Batum
The Clippers have needed somebody to step up and be the glue that keeps them in postseason running. Nicolas Batum has been that guy this season.
He started the week by dropping 32 points, all of which were scored in the second half, during a win over the Indiana Pacers.
He was forced to miss the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets but returned to finish with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a Clippers victory.
His leadership and abilities have given them life at a time they desperately need it. It won’t be just Batum who can win this game against the Knicks, though. It has to be a concerted effort from the entire roster.
Players like Reggie Jackson, Eric Bledsoe, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Morris will all be asked to contribute.
Knicks Struggling To Score
The ball hasn’t been finding the bottom of the net consistently for the Knicks. They are scoring just 104 points per game this season, which is the fourth-worst mark in the league.
They are also shooting a below average 43.6 percent from the field. Derrick Rose has been out of the lineup since December 22nd and Kemba Walker hasn’t exactly been consistent.
Those point guards heavily determine the outcome of their offensive success. On top of that, Julius Randle hasn’t been nearly the type of player we were expecting.
He averages 18.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists but is shooting 41.1 percent from the field and only 30.8 percent from behind the arc. The offense has been a major challenge for this squad.
Knicks Listed as Favorites
The Knicks are listed as the betting favorites on the NBA odds heading into this matchup. Despite the three-game losing streak, the line is at -4 in their favor.
The Clippers are a tough defensive team that has been getting it done together since their leaders went down with injuries. They don’t back down to anybody and seem like they could be a great team when fully healthy.
The Knicks, on the other hand, have so much potential but they just haven’t played up to it at all. Randle and Walker were expected to be a strong duo offensively but have since crashed towards the bottom of the rankings.
On paper, it looks like the Knicks are the better team. However, their three-game losing streak suggests that bettors need to be careful in this spot.
