Clippers vs. Warriors prediction and odds for Thursday, March 2

The Western Conference is so wide open this year that at 32-30 and 33-31 the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers are two of the most dangerous teams in the entire conference. The Warriors are in fifth, the Clippers in sixth, but only one of these two teams is climbing up those standings.

The Warriors have won three straight to get back over .500 and Steph Curry could be returning to the court very soon. The defending champs are on the rise while the Clippers have lost three in a row since adding Russell Westbrook.

Despite all of that, the Warriors are underdogs at home tonight.

Clippers vs. Warriors odds, spread and total

Clippers vs. Warriors prediction and pick

Golden State is a home underdog and that’s just crazy to me even without Steph and with Jordan Poole probably with a knee injury. They are 4-0 against the spread as a home underdog this season and 20-11-1 at home on the year. Their starting unit with Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Donte DiVincenzo, Kevon Looney, and Draymond Green has looked pretty effective lately and a big reason that they were top 10 in offensive rating in February even with Steph for much of it is the other splash brother.

Klay Thompson averaged 25.5 points in February and shot 45.4% from three and the Warriors had a 116.9 offensive rating with Thompson on the floor in the month. He actually had a 28% usage rate, his highest of any month this season. He’s been able to carry the Warriors with his shooting and keep them afloat without Steph on the floor.

The Clippers are 20th in the NBA at defending the three-point line, allowing their opponents to shoot 36.5%. They’ll need to be better than that to win today, but I don’t think they will be. Also, I’m fading them as long as they keep trotting out Westbrook in the starting lineup.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change