Lakers vs. Clippers Predictions, Picks & Odds: Will This Rivalry Continue to Be One-Sided?

sportsbookreview.com

05 April 2023

Lakers vs. Clippers Predictions, Picks & Odds: Will This Rivalry Continue to Be One-Sided?

A battle in Los Angeles is on deck, when the Lakers face the Clippers on Wednesday night. Read on for our Lakers vs. Clippers prediction based on the best NBA odds.

Wednesday’s showdown in Los Angeles is as big as ever, with playoff seeding implications on the line during the final week of the regular season.

The Lakers (41-38) are currently the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference standings, but a win would vault them to the No. 5 seed. The Clippers (41-38) are currently the No. 6 seed and are trying to stay out of the NBA play-in tournament.

But the Clippers have claimed 10 consecutive meetings in this rivalry dating back to 2020, and are favored to take care of business as the home team in Wednesday's matchup. Will the Lakers, who are fresh off a 4-0 road trip, be able to pull off the upset and climb up the conference standings?

Here is our best Lakers vs. Clippers prediction (odds via BetMGM; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Lakers vs. Clippers prediction

Russell Westbrook Over 13.5 rebounds and assists (+100 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

$1,000 back in Bonus Bets

Even by NBA standards, this game is difficult to handicap.

The Lakers needed overtime Tuesday night to escape with a road win over the Utah Jazz, earning their fourth consecutive victory. But LeBron James and Anthony Davis are now listed as TBD on the second leg of a back-to-back. Point guard D’Angelo Russell also missed the game against Utah due to left foot soreness.

Given the uncertainty of who will even be playing, prop markets are understandably limited as of Wednesday afternoon. What we do know is that this game will mean a lot to Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook was treated as the scapegoat for everything that went wrong for the Lakers over the last 1.5 seasons, but there is no denying the Lakers got better after they traded him away at the deadline. Westbrook has since found a home across the hallway with the Clippers.

Westbrook has tallied double-digit assists in four consecutive games, but we prefer to attack his rebound/assist combo line instead. Jon Metler recommended seven-plus rebounds in his NBA best bets for Wednesday, noting that the market has steamed Westbrook’s rebound prop up to 5.5.

Considering Westbrook hasn’t hit six rebounds and still cleared this number three times over the last four games, we like this prop even more if he has a big night on the glass. NumberFire’s projection of 8.4 assists and 6.5 rebounds gives this Over a 19.7% edge with the current +100 offering at BetMGM.

Lakers vs. Clippers best odds

BetMGM (+100)

Four of our five best sportsbooks are sitting at 13.5 total rebounds and assists for Westbrook, though three of them are listing the Over at minus odds. BetMGM is the only shop offering +100, which is where we will place this bet for now. We would take this line up to -120 based on our projections.

If more player prop markets become available, keep an eye on Austin Reaves’ assist prop. He has averaged 6.3 assists per game over the last 10 outings, but sports betting sites will likely list his Over/Under at 4.5, as was the case Tuesday night when he recorded six dimes.

Lakers vs. Clippers odds

Lakers vs. Clippers odds analysis

For a brief moment, the Lakers actually opened as 1-point favorites on FanDuel late Tuesday night before the game was taken off the board. Credit to those who bet early, because the Clippers are now 3.5-point favorites as of Wednesday afternoon.

The total is sitting at 232.5 after opening at 232, as the minimal movement is likely due to the uncertainty of who will be playing.

So far this season, the Lakers are 39-39-1 against the spread and 40-38-1 to the Over. The Clippers are 42-37 to the Under and 39-40 ATS on the year.