The Clippers and Lakers will renew the Battle of L.A. tonight when the two franchises clash at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James & Co. are coming off a humbling 14-point opening night defeat to the Golden State Warriors, while the Clippers are fresh for the fight following a successful preseason that featured the long-awaited returns of Kawhi Leonard and John Wall.
Which L.A. team will enjoy a Hollywood ending tonight? Read our NBA betting picks and predictions for Thursday, October 20 below to find out.
Clippers vs Lakers best odds
Clippers vs Lakers picks and predictions
In this world, nothing is certain except death, taxes, and LeBron James recording double-doubles. The four-time MVP moved another step closer to immortality on Tuesday when he erupted for a team-high 31 points and 14 rebounds in just 35 minutes. It was the 529th double-double of his career, moving him into 12th place overall and first among all active players.
The key to recording double-doubles is versatility, and it’s something LeBron has had in spades since the moment he entered the league as an 18-year-old. Anyone can fill up the hoop, but James has secured his place in basketball’s pantheon thanks to his ability to also clean the boards and set up his teammates for easy buckets. It’s the reason why he ranks second in career points, seventh in assists, and 42nd in rebounds. No other player can stuff a stat sheet quite like the King, even 20 years into his career.
“I don’t have to score the ball to be effective on the floor,” James has boasted. “I know how to get my teammates open; I know how to read defenses. I know everything that our offense needs in order for us to be successful. And you know in a make-and-miss league, sometimes when you don’t have it going offensively, you have to be able to still make an impact. So, I can do that just off my mind alone.”
LeBron has been especially impactful against the Clippers, averaging 24.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 38 starts. His success isn’t ancient history, either. He faced L.A. three times in 2021-22, registered double-doubles in the first two games, and came up a hair short in the third.
James has always been acutely aware of his place in history and appears hellbent on chasing down milestones every time he steps on the court. Expect him to gain a little more ground tonight with another seemingly effortless double-double.
My best bet: LeBron James to record a double-double (+115)
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Clippers vs Lakers spread analysis
Oddsmakers released the line for this game back on August 19, just days after the 2022-23 schedule was announced. At the time, the Clippers were favored by 2.5 points, but that was long before anyone saw Kawhi Leonard and John Wall roasting opponents in the preseason, or the Lakers getting shellacked by the Warriors on opening night.
Now that those realities have settled in — and Russell Westbrook is still in purple and gold — the Clippers have emerged as 5.5 favorites at most books. That may seem like too wide a chasm for diehard Lakers fans, but anyone who still refers to the Clippers as “L.A.’s other team” is likely showing their age or their bias.
The Steve Ballmer-owned franchise has dominated the Lakers for much of the past decade, winning 32 of their past 39 meetings since 2012-13. That includes four straight games last season, as the Clips won by a healthy margin of 7.3 points per contest.
The Clippers haven’t just been winning straight-up, either. Ty Lue’s team has gone 35-17 against the spread in the last 52 meetings of L.A.’s two franchises. It’s an impressive record, and one that should continue tonight thanks to the Clippers' superior depth, cohesion, and 3-point shooting.
Clippers vs Lakers Over/Under analysis
The total for tonight’s game opened at 220.5 across the board, but has since been bet up to 225.5. Bettors eager to jump on board were likely encouraged by the fact that the Lakers hemorrhaged points in their loss to the Warriors.
L.A. allowed Golden State to shoot 45.5% from the floor and 35.6% from downtown. That’s consistent with the club’s middling marks from a year ago, when the Lakers ranked 22nd and 14th respectively in those two categories. The 123 points were also a familiar sight for a team that ranked 28th in points allowed and surrendered 120 points or more 30 times.
Bettors also likely took solace in the fact the Lakers still managed to score despite being unable to hit the broad side of a barn. L.A. enjoyed a healthy 27-17 margin in fastbreak points and absolutely dominated inside, outscoring Golden State 60-38 in the paint.
There’s reason to believe the Lakers will be just as effective close to the basket this evening, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis both healthy and firing on all cylinders. The Clippers, for all the merits on the perimeter, also ranked 25th in opponent points in the paints a year ago at 50.1 points per game.
The Lakers and Clippers met four times last season, with the final total score averaging 226.3 points. Any trend regarding the Lakers should be taken with a grain of salt since the team underwent a massive reconstruction over the summer, but it's worth noting the total has gone Over in 10 of the team’s last 14 regular season games.
Clippers vs Lakers betting trend to know
The Clippers are 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Lakers.
Clippers vs Lakers game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, City, State/Province |
| Date: | Thursday, October 20, 2022 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | TNT, TSN |
