The Clippers have been overlooked especially with what happened in last season’s NBA playoffs. While the Jazz and the Suns have been getting all the plaudits in the Western Conference, the Clippers are right behind them placing third.
Tomorrow, they’ll figure in a heated showdown when they fly over to Portland to take on Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers.
On the other hand, the Hawks and Knicks are keen on getting wins in order to secure their postseason spots in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans and the Kings fight for their NBA 2021 odds to at least get into the play-in tournament.
Get up to date as SBOTOP presents to you tomorrow’s five-game schedule.
Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks look to carry their strong form when they host the Magic. The Nate McMillan-mentored squad have won four of their last five and they hold the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.
A huge reason why Atlanta have been doing well is because of the superb performances of Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Capela is fresh from a 25-point, 24-rebound outing against the Pacers and he has been a consistent double-double threat for this past month.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, meanwhile, has scored at least 20 points in his last four games and he has been a key cog for the Hawks since suffering a fractured knee last January.
As for the Magic, they are aiming for a turnaround after losing eight of their last nine matches.
Their trade deadline acquisitions in Wendell Carter Jr. and RJ Hampton have shown flashes recently. However, it looks like that they’ll need more time to develop together.
Betting Tip – Atlanta Hawks Asian Handicap -12.50 @ 1.96
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle reacts with forward Reggie Bullock
Charlotte Hornets @ New York Knicks
Similar to the Hawks, the Hornets and the Knicks will jockey for playoff position tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.
New York are the stronger team right now as they’re enjoying a six-game winning streak. And a major reason why they are so is because of their stifling defence.
Under Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks are the best in the East in limiting opponents from scoring, allowing only 104.5 points per game while holding them at 44-per cent shooting from the field.
Julius Randle remains at the peak of his powers as he continues to carry New York with his broad shoulders while RJ Barrett is improving on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, the Hornets continue to rely on Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges despite hearing the latest NBA 2021 news that LaMelo Ball is cleared to resume basketball-related activities.
Rozier recently became the first player in Hornets’ history to have notched 25+ points and 10+ assists in multiple games, whereas Bridges has averaged 20.6 points per game in his last three outings.
Betting Tip – New York Knicks Asian Handicap -5.50 @ 1.84
Brooklyn Nets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Two of the league’s top draws go head-to-head as Zion Williamson and Kyrie Irving are two of the best scorers in the league, with averages of 26.8 and 27.3 points per game respectively.
In their previous matchup two weeks ago, Brooklyn won 139-111 as Irving tallied 24 points to lead the charge.
Irving may need to do something similar as the Nets cannot shake off the injury bug.
Kevin Durant, who recently made his return after a long hiatus, is out due to a thigh contusion that he sustained during their recent defeat against the Heat. Meanwhile, James Harden remains day-to-day with his hamstring issue.
With a 25-32 record, the sense of urgency is there for the Pelicans to try and sneak into the playoff race.
Zion Williamson has been lighting it up with his ultra-efficient scoring, but he will need additional support from his teammates and they’ll need to be more consistent on the defencive end.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Portland Trail Blazers
Los Angeles were winners of seven consecutive games, but they saw their streak snapped by the Sixers. However, they bounced back with a dominating win over the Timberwolves yesterday.
Paul George has been the reason for the Clippers’ emergence as has scored at least 30 points in four of his last five while shooting at an efficient clip.
The Tyronn Lue-coached team is rounding into form as they prepare for another deep playoff run. The Clippers now have the best offence in the league while they’re in the Top 10 on defence.
The Blazers, meanwhile, have been quite inconsistent and they’ll need to get their act together in order to avoid the play-in tournament spots.
Damian Lillard has had trouble in dealing with the Clippers’ defence in their recent matchups, which means that the others have to step up big time.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings
The Timberwolves attempt to end their seven-game slide on the road when they head to Sacramento.
Minnesota have been horrible this term and they would like to avoid being labeled as the worst team in the league.
On the other hand, the Kings are fresh from snapping their nine-game skid with a big victory over the Mavericks.
Sacramento are in a much better position compared to Minnesota, but they might consider giving emphasis on youth development since they are also headed to the lottery.
Betting Tip – Sacramento Kings Asian Handicap -4.50 @ 1.96
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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The post NBA: Clippers Look to Re-Assert Title Contender Status appeared first on SBOTOP.