Clippers vs Lakers Prediction NBA Lock of the Night 4/5

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Lakers vs Clippers

It's a battle of Los Angeles as the Lakers take on the Clippers at crypto.com Arena on April 5, 2023. Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs throughout the season, but they'll each be looking to come out with a win in this matchup. The Lakers come into the game with a record of 40-38, sitting just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference. They'll be leaning on the likes of Dennis Schroder and Anthony Davis to lead the way, while also hoping for contributions from the rest of their roster. The Clippers, on the other hand, have a slightly better record of 41-38 and currently hold the 7th seed in the West. They'll be led by All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, who have been putting up big numbers all season long. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, this game is sure to be competitive from start to finish. Stay tuned for our full-length prediction article with expert analysis and insights on the outcome of this exciting matchup.

Lakers: Offensive Analysis

In their upcoming game against the Clippers, the Lakers will need to bring their offensive A-game if they hope to come out with a victory. Let's take a closer look at how the Lakers stack up on offense against their opponent. Points per game: 116.7 (ranked 8th) The Lakers are in the top ten in scoring this season, averaging 116.7 points per game. This is a testament to their talented roster, which includes the likes of D. Schroder, A. Davis, and L. James. However, they will need to work hard to maintain this level of scoring against a stingy Clippers defense. Fastbreak points per game: 16.5 (ranked 4th) One area where the Lakers have excelled this season is in transition. Their ability to quickly move the ball up the court and score in transition has helped them rack up 16.5 fastbreak points per game, which is ranked fourth in the league. Look for them to push the pace against the Clippers and try to exploit their opponent's defense. Points in the paint per game: 54.6 (ranked 5th) The Lakers have also been effective at scoring inside this season, averaging 54.6 points in the paint per game. This is a reflection of their dominant frontcourt, led by A. Davis, who has been a force around the rim all season. However, the Clippers will likely try to clog up the paint and limit the Lakers' inside scoring. Assists per game: 25.2 (ranked 15th) The Lakers have struggled with ball movement at times this season, averaging just 25.2 assists per game, which is ranked in the middle of the league. They will need to do a better job of sharing the ball and finding open shooters if they want to score efficiently against the Clippers. In conclusion, the Lakers have shown the ability to put up points in a variety of ways this season, but they will need to bring their best offensive performance against a tough Clippers defense. If they can effectively move the ball and continue to score inside and in transition, they have a chance to come out on top.

Lakers: Defensive Analysis

In the upcoming game against the Clippers on April 5, 2023, the Lakers will need to focus heavily on their defense in order to secure a win. The Lakers defense is currently ranked 19th in the league in terms of points allowed per game, which is an area that needs improvement. One key area of focus for the Lakers defense will be their ability to defend the three-point shot. The Clippers have a strong three-point shooting game, with a 38.2% success rate, which is ranked third in the league. The Lakers will need to be prepared to defend against this and limit the Clippers' ability to score from beyond the arc. In addition, the Lakers will need to focus on their rebounding game. The Clippers have a solid total rebounding game, with an average of 50.4 rebounds per game, which is 12th in the league. The Lakers currently have an average of 54.1 rebounds per game, which is ranked sixth in the league. However, the Lakers will need to be aggressive on the boards and prevent second-chance opportunities for the Clippers. Furthermore, the Lakers will need to limit their fouls and turnovers. The Clippers have a strong free-throw shooting game, with a 78.0% success rate, and the Lakers cannot afford to give them easy points at the charity stripe. Additionally, the Lakers will need to limit their turnovers in order to prevent the Clippers from capitalizing on their mistakes. Overall, the Lakers will need to bring their defensive A-game in order to secure a win against the Clippers. By focusing on defending the three-point shot, rebounding aggressively, limiting fouls and turnovers, the Lakers can create opportunities for themselves on the offensive end and come out on top.

Clippers: Offense Analysis

The Clippers offense has struggled at times this season, particularly with finding a consistent scorer to complement Paul George. Their average of 113.1 points per game ranks 21st in the league, and they have a negative average point differential of -0.2. Their effective field goal percentage of 55.0% is respectable, but their three-point shooting percentage of 38.2% is the third-best in the league. However, the Clippers struggle in generating points in the paint, ranking 27th in the league with just 45.0 points per game. Their assists per game (23.8) and assists per field goal made (0.583) both rank in the bottom third of the league, showcasing a lack of ball movement and unselfish play. The Clippers' offensive rebounding (9.8 per game) is below average, but their defense rebounding (33.3 per game) is solid. In order for the Clippers to be successful against the Lakers, they will need to find a way to generate offense beyond Paul George, improve their ball movement and unselfishness, and find ways to score in the paint. If they can do these things, they have the potential to outscore the Lakers and secure a victory.

Clippers: Defensive Analysis

The Clippers have been a solid defensive team all season, ranking in the top 10 in points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. However, they will need to bring their A-game defensively if they hope to contain the high-powered Lakers offense. One key to the Clippers' defensive success has been their ability to defend the three-point line. They have held opponents to just 34.3% shooting from beyond the arc, which ranks in the top 10 in the league. This will be important against a Lakers team that likes to shoot a lot of threes, with players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis able to stretch the floor. Another area where the Clippers have excelled defensively is in forcing turnovers. They have the 8th highest steal percentage in the league, with players like Paul George and Eric Gordon able to jump passing lanes and disrupt the offense. This could be especially important against a Lakers team that can be turnover-prone at times. However, one area where the Clippers have struggled defensively is in rebounding. They rank in the bottom half of the league in both defensive and total rebounding, which could be a concern against an athletic Lakers team that likes to attack the glass. Overall, the Clippers have the defensive tools to compete with the Lakers, but will need to bring a strong team effort and limit second chance opportunities in order to come away with a victory.

Injury Report

Going into the game, both the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers have players on their injury report. For the Lakers, Scotty Pippen Jr., D'Angelo Russell, and Mo Bamba are all listed as out for the game due to gout, and the Clippers have Eric Gordon and Marcus Morris Sr. listed as doubtful due to unknown injuries. While the Lakers seem to be hit harder by injuries, the Clippers' potential loss of Gordon and Morris could still impact the game. Ultimately, both teams will have to adjust their lineups and game plans accordingly, making the injury report an important factor to consider in predicting the outcome of the game.

Betting Trends Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers both have a solid track record when it comes to betting trends. Here's a breakdown of each team's trends leading up to their matchup on April 5, 2023: Los Angeles Lakers - 40-38 overall record - 19-20 away record - 39-38-1 ATS record - 3-2 in their last 5 games - 7-3 in their last 10 games - 36.3% win probability according to analytics - Ranked 8th in points per game Los Angeles Clippers - 41-38 overall record - 21-18 home record - 39-40-0 ATS record - 2-3 in their last 5 games - 5-5 in their last 10 games - 63.7% win probability according to analytics - Ranked 21st in points per game Both teams have decent records, but the Clippers have a slight edge in win probability according to analytics. In terms of against the spread records, the Lakers have gone slightly positive while the Clippers have gone slightly negative. Overall, the Lakers have been performing better than the Clippers recently with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. However, home-court advantage may play a factor in favor of the Clippers as they have a winning home record. It's important to consider both teams' recent performances and trends as well as their overall records when making a betting decision.

Prediction: 

According to ESPN Analytics, the Clippers have a 57.2% chance of winning, but I believe the statistics do not reflect the current circumstances. The Lakers are coming off a four-game winning streak, and Lebron has been putting up impressive numbers, averaging 27.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in his last ten games. This kind of performance from James is not something to take lightly, and it could be the key to the Lakers' victory.

On the other hand, the Clippers will be without Paul George, who has been their leading scorer with an average of 23.8 points per game. His absence will be felt by the team, especially against a tough opponent like the Lakers. Although the Clippers have won all three games against the Lakers this season, those victories came with George in the lineup. Without him, the Clippers may struggle to replicate their previous performances.

Lastly, the Lakers have the motivation to win this game as they are fighting for a better spot in the playoffs. The Clippers, on the other hand, have already secured their spot in the playoffs and may not have as much urgency to win. These factors give the Lakers an edge going into this matchup, and it is why I believe they will win even though they will be playing on the second of back-to-back games.

Pick: Lakers ML