The Golden State Warriors are going to face their fears of road games again, beginning with a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers this Thursday. Will the Warriors score a rare win away from Chase Center? Or, will the Clippers pummel Stephen Curry at home again?
Catch this game live on Thursday, March 16, at 10:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Golden State Warriors (36-33/7-26 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Klay Thompson
- SF: Donte DiVincenzo
- PF: Draymond Green
- C: Kevon Looney
The Warriors are winning again because nothing cures the ills of this franchise more than a game at Chase Center, where they have won their two most recent games, beating the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday (125-116 OT) and the Phoenix Suns (123-112) on Tuesday. But now, the Warriors will have to deal with their allergy to playing outside of Bay Area.
Form could trump trend for the Warriors this time around though. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry have been sensational in the last five outings. Thompson, who went off for 38 points in the win over Phoenix, has put up 23.8 PPG on 51.1 FG% in Golden State’s last five, while Curry has generated 31.0 PPG on 51.0 FG% in the same span. The Warriors also beat Los Angeles the last time these teams met, 115-91, on March 3.
Home: Los Angeles Clippers (36-33/18-15 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Paul George
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
- C: Ivica Zubac
Similar to the Warriors, the Clippers appear to be on the upswing again. Following a five-game winless streak, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers have won three in a row, all at home, including their 106-95 beatdown of the New York Knicks back on Sunday, 106-95. The three-day rest should also do wonders for the Clippers, who have won 27 of their last 28 games after taking at least that length of time away from action.
For a more tangible reason why the Clippers are having success again, one can look at their defense. The Clippers have not given up more than 108 points in their last two games while holding the Toronto Raptors and the Knicks to a combined 37.1 FG% and 31.7 3FG%. Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points the last time the Clippers hosted the Warriors in a 134-124 LA win in February.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Clippers (-2.5) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (235.5) hits the Under.