Lakers vs. Clippers odds, pick, and predictions for NBA on ESPN

With just three games left in the NBA season, Wednesday’s matchup between the Clippers and Lakers carries enormous implications for each team’s chances of avoiding the play-in tournament.

These two teams are currently tied for the sixth seed in the West ahead of this midweek matchup, and while the Lakers are the hotter team coming into this one, the Clippers are the ones drawing more respect from the betting market in a technical “home” spot for Tyronn Lue’s group.

Here’s how we’re betting Wednesday’s contest, which tips off at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Clippers vs. Lakers odds

• Clippers -3.5 (-105), moneyline -160
• Lakers +3.5 (-115), moneyline +135
• O/U 213.5 (over -115)

Clippers vs. Lakers prediction and analysis

(10 p.m. ET. ESPN)

For much of this season, the Lakers were a laughing stock in the NBA with unfounded title aspirations for a roster that clearly wasn’t built to compete.

That changed almost overnight around the NBA trade deadline, and the results have been dramatic.

Since Feb. 11, the Lakers have posted the league’s fourth-best record (16-7) with a strong 14-9 record against the spread.

The most significant difference has been on defense, where L.A. ranks first in defensive rating (110.8) with top-four marks in opponent field-goal percentage (45.5%) and 3-point percentage (34%) over that stretch.

Almost all of that came without LeBron James, who missed 13 games with foot soreness but returned to the lineup last week.

The Lakers are a perfect 4-0 in his four starts since, with three double-digit wins, extending the team’s 7-1 run since March 19.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have continued their up-and-down seasons in the regular season’s final weeks.

That’s especially been the case since Paul George (knee) hit the bench, forcing Kawhi Leonard to assume a much larger load offensively for his squad.

That’s come with mixed success. Los Angeles is just 3-3 in six games without George, with Leonard scoring precisely 12 points in two of those three losses.

And while he scored 40 points on Saturday, his team still lost to the Pelicans in a game Leonard had specifically rested up for.

Betting on the NBA?

His minutes load over the weekend is especially concerning: one night after intentionally sitting out the second half in a loss to the Grizzlies – the first case of in-game “load management” in recent memory – he played 41 minutes on Saturday, his second-most in a game this season.

It was just the third time all year he’s played at least 40 minutes.

The last time we saw that total, his team lost by 10 points two days later against the Nuggets.

Wednesday’s game may not end up quite lopsided, but this spot strongly favors the “visiting” Lakers.