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Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets Betting Preview

It will be a matchup of two heavyweights Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Clippers (16-5) will take on the Brooklyn Nets (13-9). Currently, the Clippers hold the top spot in the Western Conference, and the Nets rank second in the East. Brooklyn will host this one from the Barclays Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

The Clippers have been dominant as of late. They come into this one having won ten of their last eleven games, including a 129-115 win over New York on Sunday. Their success has propelled them to the top spot in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of the Utah Jazz.

With the acquisition of James Harden earlier in the season, the Nets now have one of the most impressive trios of players in Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving. Harden remains questionable for this one with a thigh injury after he sat out of Sunday’s loss to the Wizards. In the loss, Durant led the Nets with 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The Nets come in as the favorites playing at home. They are currently -116 to win while the Clippers’ moneyline is -102. The spread features Los Angeles +1.

By The Numbers

Offensively, Brooklyn has been the best team in the league in scoring. They are averaging 122.2 points per game and have averaged a remarkable 141.7 over their last three. The Clippers aren’t too bad either as they rank 7th averaging 114.5.

Defensively, this one is all LA. The Clippers rank 4th in scoring defense, allowing just 106.7 points per game. The Nets fall to 27th, allowing an average of 117.7 (134 in their last three).

Clippers Hope To Quiet Brooklyn’s Big Three

Los Angeles knows that it will have its hands full with the combination of Durant, Harden (assuming he plays), and Irving, but if any team can quiet them, it might be the Clippers. With a combination of depth and elite defenders in Kawhi Leonard, Pat Beverly, Serge Ibaka, and others, they can get it done on both ends of the floor.

Offensively, it is Paul George and Kawhi Leonard leading the way. George is averaging 23.6 points on 50.2% shooting while also adding 6.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. Not to be outdone, Leonard is averaging 25.9 points on 50.8% shooting, 5.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals.

Again, the key for the Clippers is their depth. Aside from these two, other contributors include Serge Ibaka (12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds), Marcus Morris Sr. (11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds), Lou Williams (9.4 points), Nicolas Batum (9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds), Patrick Beverly (8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds) and Reggie Jackson (8.4 points, 2.7 assists).

Nets Out To Prove They Can Compete With Best Of The West

With the Clippers undoubtedly being one of the best teams in the Western Conference, the Nets are out to prove that their new rotation of stars can compete with anyone they may face.

While the trio can produce bigger numbers on a nightly basis, it is Kevin Durant who has been the most consistent this season. He is averaging 30.9 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

James Harden (24.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 11.1 assists) has been solid since coming over. Last week he won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.

Irving has averaged 27.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game over 14 games this season.

Other contributors for the Nets include Joe Harris (15 points, 3.7 rebounds), Jeff Green (9 points, 3.8 rebounds), DeAndre Jordan (6.6 points, 6.9 rebounds), and Landry Shamet (5.7 points). While they have the top-end talent, they do not quite have the depth that the Clippers have.

Taking Clippers In A Coin Flip

With just a one-point spread, this is basically a pick’em game. Frankly, with the offenses that both of these teams have, either team is capable of pulling out a win.

With that in mind, I have to go with the hotter team right now, and that is the Clippers. Between their defense and their depth, they are a tough matchup for any team. I wouldn’t blame you if you took the Nets and their star power at home, but for my money, I am taking the Clippers at +1.

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