The Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers are two of the hottest teams of late in the NBA, but only one can stay hot after their clash this Saturday in the City of Brotherly Love. Will the Clippers take down Philly? Or, will the Sixers sweep their homestand? 

Catch this game live on Saturday, December 24, at 8 AM, Manila time

Away: Los Angeles Clippers (19-14/8-7 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Reggie Jackson
  • SG: Paul George
  • SF: Kawhi Leonard
  • PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
  • C:  Ivica Zubac

With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both healthy, the Clippers are eyeing to win their third game in a row – and sixth in seven games – this Friday versus Philadelphia on the road. The Clippers are fresh off a 126-105 demolition job of a win over the Charlotte Hornets last Thursday at home, with seven LA players scoring in double figures. George led the Clippers with 22 points, while Nicolas Batum and Kawhi Leonard scored 21 and 16 points, respectively. 

Over their last six games, the Clippers have seen five players (with at least four games played in that stretch) average at least 10.7 points. As a team, the Clippers aren’t a high-scoring bunch – just 30th in the NBA with 107.6 points per game – but they make up for it by playing tight defense, holding opponents down to only 107.5 points per game – good for third overall in the league. 

The Clippers are  6-1 against the spread in their last seven contests.

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Home: Philadelphia 76ers (18-12/13-5 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: James Harden
  • SG: Shake Milton
  • SF: Tobias Harris
  • PF: P.J. Tucker
  • C: Joel Embiid

The Clippers are hot, but the Sixers are scorching like a roof during an April noon. Philadelphia has won all of its last six games, all of it at home. The Sixers would love to finish their lengthy homestand with another victory when they welcome the Clippers this Saturday. In their most recent game, the Sixers humbled the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, 113-93. Joel Embiid had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden scored 15 points to go with eight assists. 

Like the Clippers, the Sixers also brandish a suffocating defense, one that is giving up only 107.4 points per game – No. 2 in the league. However, the Sixers do play much better offense than the Clippers based on numbers. The Sixers are top 10 in the league in both effective FG% (54.8%) and free-throw rate (28.7%). Harden and Embiid know how to get a ton of freebies every game, which is also why the Sixers have one of the highest FTA/FGM ratios in the NBA.

The Sixers are  5-1 against the spread in their last six outings.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Clippers (+3.0) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (217.0) hits the Under.