NBA Playoff Betting – (3) Clippers at (2) Rockets (Game 2)
Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (-6.5, 214 o/u)
Despite playing without point guard Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Clippers (5-3, 3-1 away) managed to steal home-court advantage from the Houston Rockets (4-2, 3-1 home) in Game 1 of their Western Conference semi-final, emerging with a 117-101 win. Tonight, the Rockets will look to get back on even terms as they host the Clippers at the Toyota Center in Game 2 (9:30 PM Eastern).
The Rockets looked to have Game 1 under control early, taking a six-point lead into the second quarter and a four-point lead into half. But the Clippers dominated the second half, winning both quarters by ten points. Without Paul in the lineup, Blake Griffin stole the show, posting 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists.
“He’s incredible,” said forward Matt Barnes. “He gets in the middle of the field and kind of just picks people apart like Tom Brady.”
As for Paul’s status for Game 2, coach Doc Rivers said he has a “50-50 chance to play” tonight.
“We don’t mention injuries,” the coach added. “We don’t talk about them, and we just tell our guys, ‘You execute, step into the role. You execute, and you play.'”
The Rockets need MVP runner-up James Harden to step up his game if they want to avoid going to Los Angeles down 2-0. Harden did manage 20 points and 12 assists in Game 1, but he also committed nine turnovers.
“I don’t think we took them lightly [without Paul],” Harden said after the loss. “We’ve got to do a better job of just playing harder. It felt like we were in mud for four quarters. We’ve got to be better in Game 2, and I know we will.”
In the trends, the Clippers are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five on the road against Houston. The Clippers are also 3-1 SU and ATS on the road in the 2014 postseason. But Houston will be a desperate team tonight, and the absence of Paul (or mere fact that he is less than 100-percent) will eventually catch up with the Clippers.
Pick: Rockets -6.5.
(Photo credit: 2O (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped.)
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
