The NBA betting action continues with a seven-game Thursday card, so we are taking a closer look at the Pacific Division showdown from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to get you the best Lakers vs. Clippers betting pick and odds. 

The city rivals wrap up their four-game regular-season series, and the Clippers look to sweep the Lakers for the second straight year. According to BetDSI Sportsbook, the Clippers are small favorites to grab their seventh consecutive victory over the Lakers.

The Lakers lost three in a row         

The Los Angeles Lakers (27-34; 26-35 ATS) extended their losing streak to three games this past Tuesday. After a 105-102 defeat to the Clippers last Friday and an embarrassing 123-95 loss to the Pelicans a couple of days later, the Lakers got beaten by the Dallas Mavericks 109-104.

Los Angeles was listed as a 4.5-point home dog in that tough matchup with the Mavs. The Lakers overcame a 15-point halftime deficit just to score a paltry 17 points in the fourth quarter and lose the game.

LeBron James had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists last Tuesday. Carmelo Anthony added 20 points off the bench, while Russell Westbrook had another awful game, making just five of his 17 field-goal attempts. Over his last nine appearances, Westbrook has scored only 13.7 points on a horrible 35.4% shooting from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc.

The Clippers shoot for their fifth consecutive win             

The Los Angeles Clippers (33-31; 32-32 ATS) are rolling on the four-game winning streak following a 113-100 victory at the Houston Rockets this past Tuesday. During that stretch, the Clippers have outlasted the Rockets three times, covering the spread on two occasions.

After hammering the Rockets 142-111 at home on February 17, LA beat Houston twice on the road. Last Sunday, the Clippers barely outlasted the worst team in the West, 99-98, failing to cover a 6.5-point spread at Toyota Center in Houston.

Reggie Jackson continues to drive the Clippers’ offense. He’s averaged 16.9 points and 7.3 assists in the last ten games. Ivica Zubac posted a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double in that 113-110 win over the Rockets, while Terance Mann had 19 points, 10 boards, four assists, and three steals in a 105-102 win to the Lakers this past Friday.

Trends:

LA Lakers:

  • 2-5 ATS in the last seven games overall 
  • 1-7 ATS in the last eight games played in March

LA Clippers:

  • 6-1 ATS in the last seven games overall
  • 6-1 ATS in the last seven games against the Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers Pick

I was expecting the Lakers to beat the Clippers last Sunday, but LeBron James and his teammates blew a five-point lead with 2:44 to go in the fourth quarter. The Lakers made only 41.9% of their field goals and 25.8% of their triples (8-for-31), while the Clippers, who had a 16-point in the second quarter, shot 49.4% from the field and 38.5% from downtown.

I lean the Clippers because of their defense. LA ranks seventh in the NBA in defensive efficiency (108.6 points allowed per 100 possessions) and sixth in the opponent field goal percentage (44.5%). However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lakers finally find a way to outlast their city rivals. Both teams miss some key players, as Anthony Davis, Paul Goerge, and Kawhi Leonard are all on the injury list.

Pick: Take Los Angeles Clippers 

The Total:

Five of the Lakers’ last six games have gone under the total, including the previous four. On the other side, the under is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last five games overall, while the over is 5-0 in their previous five home contests.

The under is 6-3-1 in the last ten meetings between the Lakers and Clippers, but two of their three encounters in 2021-22 have gone over a 219-point total. Neither side prefers to take things slowly, so the over should hit once more.

Pick: Go over