NBA Betting preview - Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors



A preview of Thursday night's marquee matchup in the NBA between the Clippers and the Warriors.

Warriors make their Championship run vs. Clippers as NBA Second half tips off Thursday night.

Loyal bettors will be looking to keep the faith on the Golden State Warriors as the NBA's second half tips off Thursday night. The Warriors return from the All-Star break as –170 favorites at preferred offshore sportsbook Bovada to regain the NBA championship. They'll begin the unofficial second half of the regular season this Thursday hosting the Los Angeles Clippers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET on TNT.

Golden State Warriors betting previewThis year's Warriors team (47-9 SU, 27-27-2 ATS) is quietly performing at an even higher level than last year's record 73-game winners. Adding Kevin Durant (+8.1 BPM) alongside Stephen Curry (+6.5 BPM) has cannibalized each former MVP's raw stats, but it's made them a more balanced force. Zaza Pachulia (+3.2 BPM) has also proved to be a capable replacement for departed center Andrew Bogut by remaining healthy throughout the season.

Conversely, good health hasn't been very kind to the Clippers (35-21 SU, 29-27 ATS). Their All-Star player, Chris Paul (+9.8 BPM), is targeting an estimated March 1 return after having surgery on his torn left thumb. The Clips are 6-7 SU and 7-6 ATS since Paul fell to injury although they're currently riding both a four-game win streak straight-up and against the spread. A key coaching move putting Ray Felton (–0.4 BPM) on the bench while placing underrated Luc Mbah a Moute (+0.6 BPM) back in the starting lineup has provided LA a spark.

The resurgent Clippers face the Warriors in Oakland and the current betting odds posted at Elite-rated Bovada have the Warriors favored at home. No surprise.

Los Angeles Clippers (+12.5)
Golden State Warriors (-12.5)
Game Total: 230

The Clippers still don't have Chris Paul (+9.8 BPM), but they are playing better now that they've "gone big" with Luc Mbah a Moute (+0.6 BPM) replacing Ray Felton (–0.4 BPM) in the starting lineup. That might not be enough to stop the Warriors: they're 14-3 SU and 12-4-1 ATS since mid-January.

It will be difficult to bet against the Warriors to at least capture the NBA Western Conference. Bovada has Golden State currently listed as an overwhelming -300 choice with the San Antonio Spurs a distant second at +500. Even with their solid line-up, the injuries have diluted the Clippers chances to a longshot +1600. It seems everyone is just waiting around for June to see if the Warriors will get their opportunity for revenge against the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Certainly, the TV networks and the NBA are praying for it.

Get your NBA odds at Bovada today.

Glenn Greene covers the games from a betting angle every week exclusively at OSGA.com. For weekly betting insights, inlcuding previews and picks from Glenn, click here.


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