LA CLIPPERS vs DENVER
When: 12/25/2020 10:30 PM
Where:

TV: 10:30 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: DENVER , LA CLIPPERS

Oddsmakers currently have the DENVER listed as 3 point favorites versus the LA CLIPPERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 225.

The Los Angeles Clippers may have taken the Denver Nuggets lightly in the playoffs a few months ago, which could have contributed to a stunning collapse and a second-round exit for a team many thoughts was ready to compete for a title.

It’s doubtful Los Angeles will make the same mistake again Friday night in Denver.

The Clippers and Nuggets meet in the last of a five-game Christmas Day slate, and it comes with the wounds still fresh from Denver’s improbable comeback in September.

L.A. led the series 3-1 and had a double-digit lead in the second half of Game 5. The Nuggets clawed their way back to win that game, and then rallied again in Game 6 before finishing the upset in Game 7.

Although that was only three months ago, the teams have made some significant changes.

JaMychal Green left the Clippers and signed with Denver and L.A. parted ways with coach Doc Rivers, replacing him with assistant coach Tyronn Lue. L.A. also added Serge Ibaka, Luke Kennard, and Nicolas Batum. The tweaked roster got off to a good start with a 116-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

The Clippers were led by Paul George (33 points) and Kawhi Leonard (26 points) against the Lakers and needed to recover from blowing a 22-point lead to win.

“We got a lot more work to do to continue to keep building getting better,” Lue said. “It’s going to be a process.”

The Nuggets are still working in a few key pieces to the roster, and it showed at times in a 124-122 overtime home loss to Sacramento on Wednesday. Green (left calf strain) didn’t play and Jamal Murray, who elevated his game in the playoff bubble, had only nine points before fouling out.

The Nuggets got a triple-double from Nikola Jokic (29 points 15 rebounds, 14 assists) and strong offensive games from Michael Porter Jr. (24 points) and Will Barton (16), but the team lost focus in the second half and at the end of overtime.

The hangover from a deeper postseason run might have been a factor, but head coach Michael Malone said after the game that shouldn’t factor in this season.

“As great as last season was, I’m going to keep saying this, that season is over,” Malone said. “That’s a different team. Yes, we have the core back. We have seven new players. As great as it was to win our division, to get to the Western Conference Finals, to come back from two 3-1 deficit, starting tonight, who cares? That’s over.”

Wednesday night Porter got the start over Barton, who didn’t play in Orlando due to a nagging knee injury. But Barton is happy for Porter’s success and is one of his biggest cheerleaders.

“I and him talk all the time, got a good relationship, we text all the time,” Barton said. “Mike’s going to be a hell of a player. He talks to me, I talk to him, and we just try to keep boosting each other’s confidence.”

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SACRAMENTO KINGS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:30 PM
LINE: -5.5
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , SACRAMENTO

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as -5.5 point favorites versus the SACRAMENTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 238.

The Los Angeles Clippers attempt to extend their winning streak over Sacramento to seven games when they host the Kings on Wednesday. Los Angeles prevailed in this season’s first meeting as forward Tobias Harris scored 28 points in a 133-121 road triumph on Nov. 29.

The Kings recovered from double-digit deficits to win each of their last two games — 102-99 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and 122-117 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. “The identity that we’re never out of a game, we love,” Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told reporters. “The identity of starting slow because we’re going to catch you later is not what I’m looking for. We’ve got some young bodies, some young minds, and the best is in front of us.” The Clippers are slipping with seven setbacks in the past 10 games, including a 129-127 loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Sunday. “We don’t really take moral victories,” Los Angeles point guard Patrick Beverley told reporters. “We could have – and we should have – won but we came up short.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE KINGS (18-15): Center Willie Cauley-Stein scored 22 points and collected a career-high 17 rebounds against New Orleans for his second straight double-double and 12th of the season, the latter matching a career best. Cauley-Stein is averaging 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds with five double-doubles so far in December. Shooting guard Buddy Hield scored 28 points against the Pelicans to score 20 or more for the 10th time in the past 11 games and he is 53-for-112 from 3-point range during the stretch.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (19-14): Los Angeles was a superb 18-of-23 from 3-point range in the loss to the Warriors and its 78.3 percentage was the best in NBA history (minimum 20 attempts). Harris (32 points) and forward Danilo Gallinari (25 points) were hotter than lava from long range with Harris draining 6-of-7 attempts and Gallinari knocking down all five. “Myself and Gallo, we’re shooters and the offense is predicated on us getting good looks and being able to take them and expand the court and get open 3s,” Harris told reporters. “So that’s something that’s a focus for us, really.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers won 14 of the past 16 meetings.

2. Sacramento SG Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a career-high 26 points in last month’s loss to the Clippers.

3. Los Angeles G Lou William scored 25 points against Golden State for his 12th 20-point effort of the campaign.

PREDICTION: Clippers 112, Kings 108

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TORONTO RAPTORS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , TORONTO

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as 5.5 point favorites versus the TORONTO, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.5.

The Toronto Raptors own the best record in the NBA, but they are in a bit of a rut as they open a four-game road trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Toronto has dropped three of its last four games, and Sunday’s 104-99 loss to Milwaukee marked the second time it scored fewer than 100 points this season.

Kawhi Leonard is on a roll with six consecutive 20-point peformances and is averaging 31 points while knocking down 18 3-pointers during that stretch. Leonard’s appearance against the Clippers is highly anticipated in Southern California as Los Angeles is expected to make a major run for his services should he become a free agent. The Clippers had to rally for a 123-119 road overtime win over NBA-worst Phoenix on Monday after losing three of their previous four games. Coach Doc Rivers said his team didn’t overlook the Suns despite the fact they were down eight points with just over four minutes left in regulation before feeling the urgency.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV, Sportsnet One (Toronto), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (21-7): Kyle Lowry is in a major slump and went scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting in Sunday’s game against Milwaukee. The four-time All-Star is averaging just five points on 8-of-42 shooting over his last five games and has attempted just four free throws during the funk. “I feel like he should be a little bit more aggressive,” Leonard told reporters of Lowry. “Our offense kind of allows everybody to be themselves and take their shots. It’s a lot of freedom. With that said, he’s going to have some big games coming up.”

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (17-9): Danilo Gallinari scored 25 points against Phoenix for his fifth 20-point effort in nine games as he continues his resurgence from an injury-plagued campaign in 2017-18. “He’s been the key for us,” Rivers told reporters after the victory over Phoenix. “Gall, just how calm he is and just the way he plays. He’s been really important for us.” Tobias Harris also is playing well as his 33-point performance against the Suns was his second-highest output of the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers have won three of the last four meetings.

2. Los Angeles reserve SG Lou Williams (hamstring) departed the game against Phoenix and is doubtful for Tuesday.

3. Toronto backup PG Fred VanVleet made a season-high five 3-pointers in seven attempts against the Bucks after being 4-for-21 from beyond the arc over his previous five contests.

PREDICTION: Clippers 109, Raptors 107

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LA CLIPPERS vs PHOENIX SUNS
When: 9:00 PM  ET, Monday, December 10, 2018
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona

TV: 9:05 PM
LINE: 11
PREDICTION: PHOENIX , LA CLIPPERS

Oddsmakers currently have the PHOENIX listed as 11 point favorites versus the LA CLIPPERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 220.

The Phoenix Suns dropped their last eight games and own the worst record in the NBA while trying to build a young team. The Los Angeles Clippers, who visit the Suns on Monday, are battling through a tough stretch of their own after dropping the last two contests.

Phoenix’s last six losses came by double figures and the team is fighting through injuries to its top two scorers – Devin Booker (hamstring) and T.J. Warren (ankle). “Not good,” Suns first-year coach Igor Kokoskov told reporters. “It’s hard. If you feel good about losing games, then you’re in the wrong place, wrong spot, but it doesn’t really matter from the point of view that we focus on our job. It has to be done. There’s really no time to rest. Just regroup. Focus forward and encourage guys.” The Clippers went into an offensive slump in the last two games, failing to score 100 points in either contest, and are coming off a 121-98 home loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday. Los Angeles was blitzed 30-8 in the fourth quarter of that contest and coach Doc Rivers was ejected after getting hit with a pair of technical fouls.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (16-9): Los Angeles was sitting atop the Western Conference before dropping three of its last four games and is struggling to get consistent scoring from forwards Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari. Harris, who leads the team at an average of 21 points, was held to eight on 2-of-13 shooting in a 96-86 loss at Memphis on Wednesday while Gallinari, who averages 18.8 points, combined to shoot 8-of-25 from the floor in the last two contests. Sixth man Lou Williams is slumping as well and went a combined 8-of-24 from the floor in the last two games.

ABOUT THE SUNS (4-22): Phoenix scored nine points in the first quarter of losses to Sacramento and Portland on Tuesday and Thursday and at least managed to get off to a good start before falling off in Friday’s 115-98 setback to the Heat. “The effort was definitely there tonight,” Suns swingman Josh Jackson told reporters after the latest setback. “What I was more excited about was that it was there from the beginning and didn’t take us taking a punch and realizing, ‘Oh we’re in a fight now and we’ve got to play.'” Rookie small forward Mikal Bridges scored 12 points on Friday, one night after a sideline exchange with Kokoskov went viral.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns SG Troy Daniels is averaging 15.3 points over the last three games, boosting his season mark to 7.7.

2. Clippers PF Mike Scott is 1-of-9 from 3-point range over the last two games.

3. Los Angeles took the last nine meetings, including a 115-99 victory at home on Nov. 28.

PREDICTION: Clippers 106, Suns 96

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LA CLIPPERS vs DALLAS MAVERICKS
When: 7:00 PM  ET, Sunday, December 2, 2018
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: 2.5
PREDICTION: DALLAS , LA CLIPPERS

Oddsmakers currently have the DALLAS listed as 2.5 point favorites versus the LA CLIPPERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 226.5.

The Los Angeles Clippers have a chance to record their second five-game winning streak in a span of just over three weeks when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Clippers raced toward the top of the Western Conference with a five-game run in the middle of November and seized first place in the West with their current four-game surge.

Tobias Harris and Montrezl Harrell combined for 52 points and Los Angeles shot 55.6 percent in Thursday’s 133-121 win at Sacramento to begin a four-game road trip. “We had a little lapse but we kept fighting through,” Harris told reporters. “When you’ve got different options to go to in the fourth quarter to win a game, especially down the stretch, that’s key.” The Mavericks have been surging as well and won seven of eight prior to a 114-103 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Sunday marks the first game against the Clippers for center DeAndre Jordan, who spent his first 10 seasons with them before signing with the Mavericks in the offseason.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (15-6): Despite an absence of superstar talent, Los Angeles is averaging 118.6 points during its 9-1 run as it continues to come at opponents with a wave of different scorers. “It’s one of those games where a lot of teams fold, but we didn’t,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the win over the Kings, which saw six Clippers score in double figures. “Every time they made a run either Tobias or (Danilo Gallinari) or (Harrell) made a big play. That’s what type of team we have. That’s why we’re so good.” Harrell averaged 17.9 points and 7.9 rebounds off the bench in November while shooting 65.3 percent from the floor.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (10-10): Rookie Luka Doncic was held to six points on 2-of-13 shooting in the loss to the Lakers, the first game of his career in which he failed to hit double digits. “My shot was terrible, but we have a game again in two days,” Doncic told reporters. “We have eight wins and three losses (in the last three-plus weeks). We just have to keep going.” Harrison Barnes picked up the slack with a season-high 29 points in Friday’s setback and he’s averaging 22.5 over his last four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Jordan is the Clippers’ all-time leader in games (750), rebounds (7,988), blocks (1,277) and field goal percentage (.673)

2. Clippers G Lou Williams scored at least 10 points in 63 straight games in which he’s come off the bench, the league’s longest such run since 1983-84.

3. Los Angeles took two of three meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 117, Clippers 115

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SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Thursday, November 15, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE: -5.5
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , SAN ANTONIO

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as -5.5 point favorites versus the SAN ANTONIO, while the game’s total is sitting at 217.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won four of their past five games and are brimming with confidence as they host the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. The Clippers were ecstatic after posting a 121-116 overtime victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Monday and look to continue their hot stretch against a San Antonio squad that has dropped four of its last five.

Los Angeles has posted consecutive overtime victories – beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday – and was busy making the key plays in the extra session against the Warriors after allowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to slip away. “It’s how we won, we could’ve played better, so that’s my job there,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “We did a couple things defensively that we just can’t do to win games down the stretch. I told them after the game, ‘Let’s be good, let’s not be lucky.’ The thing I like about our team is we’re gonna get better.” The Spurs are slipping in the other direction after getting mauled 116-96 by the struggling Phoenix Suns on Wednesday to fall to 0-2 on a three-game road trip. The 20-point margin matched San Antonio’s largest setback of the campaign and came two weeks after it trounced the Suns by 30 in Phoenix.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE SPURS (7-6): San Antonio’s defense was suspect from the start against Phoenix in a game it never led and it allowed the Suns to shoot 56 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from 3-point range. “They penetrated on us consistently and found open people and deserved to win the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters of the Suns. “They were great.” Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points for his 10th 20-point outing of the campaign but power forward LaMarcus Aldridge struggled with 3-of-12 shooting while scoring a season-low six points for the second time in four contests.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (8-5): Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams was the hero against Golden State by scoring 10 of his 25 points in overtime as he quickly shook off being 3-for-16 shooting during regulation. “There would be no point for me to be on the floor if I didn’t have confidence,” Williams told reporters after scoring 20 or more points for the fifth time in the past six games. Power forward Montrezl Harrell scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting against Golden State and has connected on 33-of-41 attempts over the past four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Spurs went 2-1 against the Clippers last season.

2. Los Angeles SG Avery Bradley (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday but will likely miss his fifth straight game.

3. San Antonio C Pau Gasol (foot) is expected to miss his fifth consecutive contest.

PREDICTION: Clippers 109, Spurs 102

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GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Monday, November 12, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , GOLDEN STATE

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as 3.5 point favorites versus the GOLDEN STATE, while the game’s total is sitting at 236.5.

The Golden State Warriors have enough depth to absorb an injury to one or two of their All-Stars and are hoping to tap into that depth to survive a stretch with four of five on the road. The Warriors will open that span by visiting the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Golden State is without point guard Stephen Curry (groin) and sat forward Draymond Green (toe) the last two games but still managed to dispatch the Brooklyn Nets 116-100 on Saturday. The Warriors, who were bouncing back from a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the previous game, got 28 points and 11 assists from Kevin Durant in the win while Quinn Cook did his best Curry impression with 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting. The Clippers managed to beat that same Milwaukee squad 128-126 on Saturday while showing off its roster depth, which included six players – two reserves – scoring in double figures. “It’s great, it’s great to win at home and win against one of the hottest teams in the league,” Los Angeles forward Danilo Gallinari told reporters. “It’s definitely a great feeling, but now we have another tough game coming up.”

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), NBCS Bay Area (Golden State)

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (11-2): Curry is likely to sit out again on Monday as Golden State plays it safe with its star, but the team has plenty of confidence in Cook. “It’s no surprise to me that he can do this,” Durant told reporters after Cook’s performance on Saturday. “I just want him to keep working, keep being a great teammate. Consistency is what you want in this league as a player. You want to continue to do stuff like this, night in and night out.” Cook was in and out of the rotation over the first 10 games but is 21-of-33 from the floor over the last three contests, including 10-of-15 from beyond the arc.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (7-5): Los Angeles reserve guard Lou Williams struggled from the floor while going 5-of-15 on Saturday but hit the shot when it counted, burying a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds remaining in overtime to give his team the win. “Those type of guys are different, they really are, their confidence is different,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters in reference to Williams. “I played the game for 13 years and I never had confidence. If I missed three shots in a row, I was under the table somewhere. But these guys, they think every miss means they’re closer to making 10 in a row, not missing 10 in a row.” Williams scored at least 20 points in each of the previous four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Durant went 9-of-9 from the free-throw line on Saturday and is shooting 92.6 percent from the stripe.

2. Los Angeles SG Avery Bradley (ankle) sat out last three games and remains day-to-day.

3. Golden State took 13 of the last 14 in the series.

PREDICTION: Warriors 123, Clippers 116

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MILWAUKEE BUCKS vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 3:30 PM  ET, Saturday, November 10, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 3:35 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , MILWAUKEE

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as 3 point favorites versus the MILWAUKEE, while the game’s total is sitting at 232.5.

The Milwaukee Bucks just announced themselves as a true contender this season by dominating the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Thursday and avoiding a letdown after that big win is the next challenge. The Bucks will try to keep the momentum rolling forward when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Milwaukee is taking a step forward this season under new coach Mike Budenholzer and showed off the power and versatility in his offense with Thursday’s 134-111 triumph. “I think teams are starting to take notice and realize that we’re not the Bucks that we were when I first got here six years ago,” Bucks swingman Khris Middleton told reporters. “We’re a totally different team even from last year. We’re going to come to play. We’re going to play hard.” The Clippers are a different team than they were a year ago as well and are trying to establish an identity based around team play while operating without a star. Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris are doing the bulk of the scoring from the starting unit and combined for 35 points and 16 rebounds in a 116-105 loss at Portland on Thursday.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE BUCKS (9-2): Milwaukee point guard Eric Bledsoe was struggling with his shot before going 10-of-12 from the floor and finishing with a team-high 26 points and six assists in Thursday’s win. “Eric was phenomenal,” Budenholzer told reporters. “It goes without saying. Both ends of the court. Defensively, he was locked in. He can be really tough to screen, whether it be pick-and-rolls or chasing the ball. And then the way he attacked the other direction. I think when he saw opportunities and was able to get people on their heels, he took advantage of it. That was great to see.” Bledsoe was held to five points on 2-of-12 shooting in a loss at Portland to open the road trip.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (6-5): Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers is trying to find the right rotations to get the most out of his team and is starting to give rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a longer look. Gilgeous-Alexander broke out with a season-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting in 35 minutes on Thursday while knocking down both of his 3-point attempts. Power forward Montrezl Harrell is demonstrating his efficiency off the bench and went 8-of-9 from the floor on Thursday to boost his shooting percentage to 67.1.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Clippers SG Avery Bradley (ankle) missed the last two games and is day-to-day.

2. Bucks SG Pat Connaughton scored a season-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting Thursday.

3. Los Angeles took both meetings last season by an average of seven points.

PREDICTION: Bucks 123, Clippers 109

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LA CLIPPERS vs PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
When: 10:00 PM  ET, Thursday, November 8, 2018
Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

TV: 10:05 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: PORTLAND , LA CLIPPERS

Oddsmakers currently have the PORTLAND listed as -5 point favorites versus the LA CLIPPERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 225.5.

CJ McCollum has put a slump behind him and looks to follow up his best outing of the season when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. McCollum exploded for 40 points in Tuesday’s 118-103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks and also added six assists and five rebounds.

McCollum was 17-of-26 shooting and made five 3-pointers in a strong showing that followed a stretch in which he scored fewer than 20 points in five of six games. “Whether I play well or not, I know how much time I spend preparing,” McCollum told reporters following the fourth 40-point outing of his career. “The only thing I saw was I had a lot of in-and-outs and I was shooting with a dead wrist. That was the only thing I noticed. I wasn’t locking my wrist out, so I just tried to lock my wrist out.” The Clippers are looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season after scoring 120 points in back-to-back wins over the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. “This team likes to play together and they understand that if one guy or a group is going they’re fine with waiting,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters of his team’s unselfish approach.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), NBCS Northwest (Portland)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (6-4): Starting forwards Tobias Harris (21.3 points) and Danilo Gallinari (20 per game) are providing a large chunk of the team’s scoring, but the next four leading scorers are all reserves. Guard Lou Williams, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, is averaging 19.1 points and is followed by power forward Montrezl Harrell (12.1), center Boban Marjanovic (9.1) and rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (eight per game). “We have different guys that can make plays, and on any given night, it’s gonna be somebody else’s night,” Harris told reporters. “That’s the beauty of our team.”

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (8-3): Portland is 3-1 on a six-game homestand that concludes Sunday against the Boston Celtics and its three triumphs have been by an average of 19.3 points. Swingman Evan Turner established season highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds against Milwaukee on a night in which point guard Damian Lillard tallied a season-low 13. Lillard wasn’t needed for an offensive splurge with McCollum on a roll but his season average stands at a stellar 26.7.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers won the past three meetings after losing 10 of the previous 12.

2. McCollum averaged 18.3 points in four games against the Clippers last season.

3. Los Angeles SG Avery Bradley (ankle) will miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 124, Clippers 117

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MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES vs LA CLIPPERS
When: 10:30 PM  ET, Monday, November 5, 2018
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:35 PM
LINE: -5
PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS , MINNESOTA

Oddsmakers currently have the LA CLIPPERS listed as -5 point favorites versus the MINNESOTA, while the game’s total is sitting at 228.5.

Lou Williams has led the way with a productive second unit for the Los Angeles Clippers and hopes to continue his personal hot streak when they return home to take on the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. Williams averaged 23.7 points and drained 8-of-12 from 3-point range as the Clippers went 1-2 on their just-completed road trip that ended with a 120-95 win at Orlando on Friday, and they’ll play four of the next five at home.

“(Williams) got it going in the third and fourth quarter and that changed the game,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters of Williams, who made all five 3-point attempts and scored a season-high 28 on Friday. “He is just an amazing, amazing shooter and he shoots from all angles. … He is a professional scorer and you see it every time he plays.” The Clippers received 63 points from their reserves in the win over Orlando and will need more of the same against Minnesota, which has won the last six meetings and four in a row at Los Angeles. The Timberwolves are not the same team as the one that made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years in 2017-18 as injuries and turmoil have led to a 4-6 start after the 111-81 setback at Portland on Sunday – equalling the most lopsided loss in coach Tom Thibodeau’s tenure. Jimmy Butler, who has requested a trade, did not play at Portland and the All-Star is a game-time decision for Monday along with fellow guards Derrick Rose (ankle) and Jeff Teague (knee).

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (4-6): Leading scorer Karl-Anthony Towns poured in a team-high 23 points on Sunday and is averaging 21 with 13 makes from 3-point range in the past five contests. Andrew Wiggins was the only other Minnesota player in double figures Sunday with 17 points and is averaging 19.3 in three games since returning from a quad injury. Guard Josh Okogie was held to six points on 2-of-8 shooting Sunday after averaging 14 in the previous three contests while fellow rookie Keita Bates-Diop scored his first four points in the NBA after making 2-of-7 from the field in 12 minutes.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (5-4): Boban Marjanovic continues to make a major impact and the 7-3 Serbian got his first start Friday before posting his second straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. “(Marjanovic) did a great job,” Los Angeles’ leading scorer Tobias Harris (21.2) told reporters. “Anytime he got a hand up for a target that’s something I’m looking for. He has huge hands so he’s going to grip the ball really fast, too. It’s tough for defenses to guard.” Harris, who also tops the team in rebounds (8.3 per game), has connected on 34-of-54 shots from the field over the last four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Timberwolves shot a season-low 31.2 percent from the field Sunday and were 7-of-30 from 3-point range.

2. The Clippers assigned Gs Jerome Robinson and Ty Wallace to their G League affiliate in Ontario, Calif.

3. Butler has scored at least 20 points in six of the seven games in which he played, averaging 22.3.

PREDICTION: Clippers 112, Timberwolves 104

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