Two teams headed in opposite directions square off tonight at The Staples Center as Miami visits the Clippers. The Heat
have lost three of four including the last two of this current West coast road swing. By contrast, the Clippers have won nine
straight since Blake Griffin went down with a quad injury. Both teams have makor question marks in their front courts for this
game. Miami big man Hassan Whiteside (12.3, 11.1) is questionable here with knee tendinitis. He was held out of the Heat’s
last game at Golden State. L.A.’s DeAndre Jordan (11.6, 13.4) has been battling the flu but was just upgraded from questionable
to probable during this writing. The line has been set at Clippers -5 with no total. Watch and win on ESPN.
Miami is still led by two of the Heat’s remaining Big Three. Chris Bosh is enjoying a fine season averaging 19.1 ppg. on 47%
shooting from the field. Dwayne Wade is having a big year after being left for dead by many in the off season. Now 33 and in his
13th season out of Marquette, “Flash” is is averaging 18.1, 4.1, 4.6 and has been as healthy as he’s been in many years. Goran
Dragic, the Heat’s prize pick up at the end of last year has not disappointed from the point. The Heat have been somewhat
disappointing at 22-16. They are 24th in the league in scoring and play eight of their next nine games on the road. Currently in
sixth place in the much improved Eastern Conference, look for more sense of urgency from Miami who look to avoid getting buried
before the end of January.
The Clippers were just 16-13 before going on their current run. Blake Griffin is the leading scorer at 23.2 ppg. but he is expected to
miss another week to 10 days. Chris Paul (18.1, 9.5) is once again showing why he’s one of the top three point guards in the league
and has also stepped it up big on the defensive end during Griffin’s absence. L.A.’s unsung hero during the streak has been sixth man
supreme Jamal Crawford who seemingly takes and hits every big Clipper shot. The Clippers have been getting excellent play from a
very experienced veteran bench which features Paul Pierce, Wesley Johnson and Josh Smith.
The Heat have won four of the last five in the series with teams splitting last year, each winning on the others home court. Miami is
4-1 in it’s L5 as a road dog. The Heat’s lack of scoring (92 ppg. L4) has translated into the team being a solid under proposition in
almost every scenario. Miami is 25-13 low for the year and the under is 11-5 in the Heat’s 15 road games. The Clippers have been
a 50-50 side and total squad all year but have covered four of their last six as a home favorite. The Clipper are 4-0 (3-0-1 ATS) against
the Southeast division this year and are 10-3 straight up this year vs. the East. Look for Miami to try and slow the tempo down keeping
the score in the 90s and giving themselves a chance to win the game late.
have lost three of four including the last two of this current West coast road swing. By contrast, the Clippers have won nine
straight since Blake Griffin went down with a quad injury. Both teams have makor question marks in their front courts for this
game. Miami big man Hassan Whiteside (12.3, 11.1) is questionable here with knee tendinitis. He was held out of the Heat’s
last game at Golden State. L.A.’s DeAndre Jordan (11.6, 13.4) has been battling the flu but was just upgraded from questionable
to probable during this writing. The line has been set at Clippers -5 with no total. Watch and win on ESPN.
Miami is still led by two of the Heat’s remaining Big Three. Chris Bosh is enjoying a fine season averaging 19.1 ppg. on 47%
shooting from the field. Dwayne Wade is having a big year after being left for dead by many in the off season. Now 33 and in his
13th season out of Marquette, “Flash” is is averaging 18.1, 4.1, 4.6 and has been as healthy as he’s been in many years. Goran
Dragic, the Heat’s prize pick up at the end of last year has not disappointed from the point. The Heat have been somewhat
disappointing at 22-16. They are 24th in the league in scoring and play eight of their next nine games on the road. Currently in
sixth place in the much improved Eastern Conference, look for more sense of urgency from Miami who look to avoid getting buried
before the end of January.
The Clippers were just 16-13 before going on their current run. Blake Griffin is the leading scorer at 23.2 ppg. but he is expected to
miss another week to 10 days. Chris Paul (18.1, 9.5) is once again showing why he’s one of the top three point guards in the league
and has also stepped it up big on the defensive end during Griffin’s absence. L.A.’s unsung hero during the streak has been sixth man
supreme Jamal Crawford who seemingly takes and hits every big Clipper shot. The Clippers have been getting excellent play from a
very experienced veteran bench which features Paul Pierce, Wesley Johnson and Josh Smith.
The Heat have won four of the last five in the series with teams splitting last year, each winning on the others home court. Miami is
4-1 in it’s L5 as a road dog. The Heat’s lack of scoring (92 ppg. L4) has translated into the team being a solid under proposition in
almost every scenario. Miami is 25-13 low for the year and the under is 11-5 in the Heat’s 15 road games. The Clippers have been
a 50-50 side and total squad all year but have covered four of their last six as a home favorite. The Clipper are 4-0 (3-0-1 ATS) against
the Southeast division this year and are 10-3 straight up this year vs. the East. Look for Miami to try and slow the tempo down keeping
the score in the 90s and giving themselves a chance to win the game late.