Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards Prediction, Preview, and Odds
This battle will draw eyes on both coasts, as the Los Angeles Clippers (30-15; 25-20-0 ATS) are taking on the Washington Wizards (9-37; 22-22-2 ATS) on Wednesday night. This game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. EDT in Capital One Arena. These franchises have not met yet this season, but the Clippers have a four-game winning streak head-to-head. Will they push it to five, or are the Wizards going to be victorious?
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Los Angeles Looking Up Still
The top of the Western Conference is tight, but a loss on Monday night still has the Clippers parked in fourth place. Cleveland beat them 118-108 despite 30 points from Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles will eye a return to the win column through a better performance from the league's fourth-best offensive rating. The Clippers are also fourth in true shooting percentage. No team has better three-point accuracy. Along with that, they're 11th in turnover percentage, 11th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 14th in free throw attempts per game. Even at a slow pace, Los Angeles is 10th in points per game, a testament to their incredible roster.
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 30, 2024
On the other end, the Clippers are 11th in defensive rating. They're a top-10 team at forcing misses at all three scoring levels. Overall, they allow the sixth-lowest field goal percentage. Los Angeles' defense is 12th in turnover percentage and 12th in free throw attempts allowed. Their major flaw is a defensive rebounding percentage that's 22nd. Ivica Zubac's (out) recent injury hasn't helped Los Angeles in the paint at all. Still, this team is making moves by strong play in almost every way.
Wizards Winning Ways?
Don't look now, but Washington has two straight wins as they return home. Unfortunately, those came against the Spurs and Pistons, the two teams sandwiching them for the worst record in the NBA. Washington is also contending with an eight-game losing streak in Capital One Arena that includes the Spurs and Pistons. The Wizards woes begin by allowing the most points per game, 124.0. This team is 28th in defensive rating, mostly because of poor play in the paint. They're 27th in percentage of field goals allowed at the rim, 26th in defensive rim efficiency, and the NBA's worst defensive rebounding club. Washington is 20th in forcing three-point misses and gives up the 23rd-most free throw attempts. Outside of forcing the fifth-most turnovers per game, this defense is unreliable.
Offensively, the Wizards aren't much better, ranking 25th in offensive rating. On this end of the floor, they are yet again the worst rebounding team. Outside of the paint, Washington is among the five least efficient teams this season. However, this is a Wizards team that's third in rim efficiency and seventh in percentage of shots attempted at the rim. It carries the offensive production. Even with that downhill approach, Washington is only 24th in free throw attempts per game. Will strong attacking earn the Wizards a third straight victory?
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Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
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This is one of those instances where a team playing at home actually bodes worse for them. The Wizards are 3-18 (7-14-0 ATS) on their home floor this season. As it already stands, they're outmatched in almost every way in this game.
Washington is one of the few teams that can't take advantage of Los Angeles' weak rebounding. The Clippers are solid at keeping opponents away from the rim, which will help neutralize the Wizards offense. This elite Clippers offense faces the team allowing the most points per game. Roll with Los Angeles to cover.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers -12
Full-Game Total Pick
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Washington allows the most points per game (28th in defensive rating). They allow more points (125.9) at home this season. Up against a Clippers team that's fourth in offensive rating, the Wizards won't get many stops. If they use their league-leading pace, the Clippers will only score even more.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles is depleted in the frontcourt right now. For a Wizards team that's top-10 at getting to and finishing at the rim, they can score inside often against Los Angeles. Washington scores more at home and is notably more efficient. Expect a lot of points in this one, which will finish over the total.
Prediction: Over 239.5
Watching, playing, and talking about sports has always been an essential part of my life. I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Communication, and now, I'm striving to be an essential voice in sports media for decades to come. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone more competitive than me, and that extends into my sports betting predictions as well. We're all here to win, and my goal is to make that happen every single night while letting my personality shine in the process. I am honored to be apart of this team.
