Los Angeles Clippers vs Golden State Warriors Preview (3/2/23): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds
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The Los Angeles Clippers will look to recalibrate on the road against the Golden State Warriors after a recent three-game skid.
Check out our betting predictions, betting picks, and analysis about this matchup below, as well as the projected starting lineups, current injury news, and updated odds.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Odds
The Clippers are 2.5-point road favorites against Golden State on Thursday night. Barring any unforeseen pre-game scratches, Los Angeles should have a healthy roster heading into this matchup with the Dubs.
Meanwhile, the Warriors will be without Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Rollins, Gary Payton II, and Andre Iguodala.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Golden State Warriors Prediction
Los Angeles enters this game having lost three straight, despite changing up its roster by adding Russell Westbrook, Mason Plumlee, Eric Gordon, and Bones Hyland at the deadline.
The Clippers are a challenging team to diagnose, as the offense has been the general issue for them for this season and last; however, in the past nine games (2-7), they have a team shooting split of 50/41/85. Those numbers are more than good enough to win most of those games.
The problem: Los Angeles has given up similar numbers to opponents (52% from the field) in that stretch. Perhaps, the Clippers are just not so great defensively either.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors have won three-straight games, with two being by double-digits. Unfortunately, this is not an indication of significantly improved play but, rather, a result of playing weak opponents in front of their own crowd.
Still, there is some positive from this recent stretch: Klay Thompson looks back to normal. Since Curry has missed this second significant stint (nine games), Thompson has posted close to 28 points on a 47/47/87 shooting split as one of the team’s primary scoring options.
If Klay continues to shoot like this when Curry comes back, and Golden State cleans up its defense, the Dubs could make some noise late in the season. Right now, they are still without Curry and Andrew Wiggins, who has missed some time due to personal reasons recently.
So can Golden State hold off Los Angeles at home and cover the spread?
Frankly, I’m going to put trends aside and roll with the Los Angeles Clippers to cover the spread, and here’s why: they match up well. I’m still not a big believer in the Warriors’ bench, which ranks in the bottom five in net rating. Having two key starters and two key bench players listed as out complicates matters.
Further, this Warriors team is extremely limited offensively outside of Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson, who could each draw tough assignments (George and Leonard) if Los Angeles decides to cross-match guards. Let’s go Clips.
Betting Trends
- Los Angeles is 18-16 ATS on the road in 2022-23
- Golden State is 20-11-1 ATS at home in 2022-23
- The combined over record of these two teams is 64-60-2 in 2022-23
Key Matchups
Our key matchup is between two future Hall-of-Famers: Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard.
See our in-depth breakdown of which player has an advantage in this game, and whether it will be enough to lead their team to a much-needed win.
Kawhi Leonard vs. Klay Thompson
If both teams roll out the same lineups that they have been using, we are likely to see a Kawhi Leonard versus Klay Thompson primary matchup, which should be quite competitive.
In Steph Curry’s recent absence, Thompson has stepped up in a major way, as mentioned above; in his past nine games, all of which have been without Curry, Klay has averaged 28 points on a 47/47/87 shooting split.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard has started to more consistently reflect the player he was before he had that knee injury nearly two years ago. Leonard has averaged close to 29 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game in his last 20 outings. His shooting split of 53/50/92 on significant volume during that span is ludicrous.
Both players have been on fire, so who has the advantage? With each playing out of their respective minds, it is easiest to lean toward the player that has been performing better defensively.
That player is definitely Kawhi Leonard, who has a defended field goal percentage of 43.7% this season and holds opposing players to 36.8% shooting from 20-24 feet and 36.2% from 25-29 feet.
Leonard should prove enough of a hassle to force Klay to get his points on volume. I like Kawhi in this matchup. Advantage: The Klaw.
Los Angeles Clippers Starting Lineup
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Paul George
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Marcus Morris Sr
C: Ivica Zubac
Golden State Warriors Starting Lineups
PG: Jordan Poole
SG: Donte DiVincenzo
SF: Klay Thompson
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney
Key Injuries
Los Angeles Clippers Injuries: None
Golden State Warriors Injuries: Andre Iguodala (Out), Gary Payton II (Out), Steph Curry (Out), Ryan Rollins (Out), Andrew Wiggins (Out)
