Game 2 between the Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs takes place tonight in the Lone Star State tonight. The game is scheduled for a 9:30 pm start time and it will be televised live on TNT. Currently the odds have Oklahoma City favored by 11 points with the total sitting at 194 points for the contest.
Free Analysis: Weary Los Angeles will be playing for the seventh time in 13 days, with just one day of rest again. But the team has been strong in this scenario this season with a 26-15 record (22-17-2 ATS). The Clippers’ two stars, PF Blake Griffin and PG Chris Paul, combined to score just 21 points in Game 1, 18 fewer than they averaged in the first-round series versus Memphis. Griffin was limited to 28 minutes because of his sprained knee, while Paul made just 3-of-13 shots and failed to get to the free-throw line. SF Caron Butler scored 15 points, but managed just two rebounds and a minus-22 rating. PF Reggie Evans had 8.7 RPG in just 22.3 MPG in the first round, but played just eight minutes on Tuesday because of foul trouble, and grabbed just three boards. Starting SG Randy Foye (3 points, 0 assists in 21 minutes) and reserve G Mo Williams (3 points, 1 assist in 21 minutes) were both non-factors as well. But not all was bad on Tuesday. The Spurs had a difficult time slowing down backup PG Eric Bledsoe, who finished the game with 23 points (10-of-16 FG), five rebounds, four assists and three steals. That gives Bledsoe 15.0 PPG in his past three games after scoring just 3.8 PPG in his first five playoff games. The Spurs are going for their 16th straight win tonight and are 13-1-1 ATS during this amazing run, scoring more than 100 points in 14 of these 15 victories. San Antonio is 31-5 (26-8-2 ATS) at home this season, outscoring these visitors by 12.6 PPG (106.0 to 93.4 PPG). The Spurs won Game 1 easily despite PG Tony Parker shooting a woeful 1-of-9 from the floor. Parker did run the point effectively though with 11 assists. San Antonio’s other two stars certainly did their part on the offensive end. PF Tim Duncan scored a game-high 26 points with 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while SG Manu Ginobili poured in 22 points (6-of-13 FG), marking his highest-scoring output of the 2012 playoffs. The rest of the Spurs bench scored just 15 points, but the other three lesser-known starters all had big nights. Forwards Boris Diaw and Kawhi Leonard took advantage of an injured Griffin down low and combined for 23 points, 18 rebounds (eight offensive), six assists and six steals. Starting SG Daniel Green nearly doubled his playoff scoring average (8.5 PPG) with 15 points (6-of-11 FG), six rebounds and two blocks in 29 strong minutes. San Antonio is now 3-1 SU & ATS vs the Clippers this year.
Free Pick: Gonna take a shot with the over in this one. Heading into the Memphis series I felt that the Clippers were more of an up and down the court team, but they didn't play that way in that one. Well in game 1 vs the Spurs they did play that way and they had to if they were hoping to keep pace with the high scoring Spurs. In their 15 game winning streak the Spurs have averaged 110.3 ppg and have hit at least 105 points in 13 of those 15 games. That means we need about 89 points for the Clippers to at least get a tie in this one. In a faster paced game they should get somewhere in the 90's in this game as they have enough offense to get at least that much. The Spurs have played great defense during their stretch, but they did allow 92 points in the opener and they have allowed 93.7 during their 15 game win streak, so 92 or 93 is not out of the question by the Clippers here. I expect this one to barely squeak above 200 points.
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Betting Strategies: Handicapping NBA Playoffs
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