LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS -4 over Atlanta
The Los Angeles Clippers hope to keep the Atlanta Hawks winless on their season-high seven-game road trip when the struggling teams meet at the Staples Center tonight. The Hawks, who have dropped five of their last six contests, were routed at Dallas on Tuesday in the opener of their road trip, 105-79. The Clippers had lost six of seven, including the first two of a four-game homestand, before defeating Milwaukee on Wednesday, 110-104.
This is the first meeting between these teams this season; however, we note that the home team has gone 6-0 SU/ATS in this series over the past 3 seasons. We do like the Clippers here as despite how poor they are as home favorite, the Hawks are even worse as a road team this season. Atlanta had a mini-surge prior to the trade deadline as several players voiced their opposition to being traded. Now that the threat is gone, we look for a letdown here against an LA team that is trying to convince its owner that he should keep the team together. Following their win over Milwaukee, Donald Sterling paid a visit to the locker room to give the team a vote of confidence, and we expect that to carry over here.
At home off 3 or more previous home games, the Clips are 6-2 ATS, and will be gearing up for game with their cross-town rivals. As a single digit favorite prior to facing the Lakers, they are a perfect 7-0 ATS, including 5-0 at home. Atlanta figures to continue their road woes here, as they are 1-7 ATS on the road off a loss of 20+ points, and a poor 2-8 ATS in Saturday road games. They may keep this one interesting for awhile, but LA should pull away down the stretch for the win and cover.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: LA CLIPPERS 96 ATLANTA 89