by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Dec 27, 2021
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: Bally Sports Southern California, YES
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Nets -4.5
BetMGM: Nets -4.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Nets: 22-9 (1st place, Eastern Conference)
Clippers: 17-16 (5th place, Western Conference)
Matt Fargo is on a red-hot 3-0 run over the past seven days after a strong win Sunday with the 76ers over Wizards. He’s on a 36-25 run this season, meaning you need to take advantage of what his next play has in store. Catch Matt’s plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Nets - Clippers preview and analysis
Recent form
Nets: won five of six; won 122-115 at Lakers on Saturday
Clippers: lost four of five; lost 103-100 vs. Nuggets on Sunday
The Brooklyn Nets appear to not miss a beat when at least one of their Big Three is healthy/following COVID protocols.
James Harden and the Nets will continue a run at Crypto.com Arena on Monday when they face the hosting Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets returned to the court on Christmas Day to face the Lakers, and it was also the return of Harden after spending a stint on the COVID list; the same week Kevin Durant went into health and safety protocol and missed the game. Durant will not play on Monday, the team confirmed.
But Harden looked like his old self on Christmas, dropping a triple-double of 36 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 7-point win over the Lakers. Patty Mills put up 34 while making eight 3-pointers.
“Until this is over, until we can get our full roster, I think the motto is, ‘find ways to win,’ and we’ve been doing that,” Harden said.
That win gave the Nets their fifth in six games after splitting their previous four. Prior to their postponements, the Nets lost 100-93 at home to the Orlando Magic without Durant and Harden. Mills stepped up and had 23 points; the sharp-shooting guard is averaging a career-high 14.3 points and a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range.
Brooklyn got a day off before its matchup against the Clippers, whereas L.A. is coming off a 103-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets at home. The Clippers are playing the second night of a back-to-back, albeit at home, but come in having lost four of five after winning their previous four.
The Clippers have to navigate through the waters for the next month without Paul George; the Clippers' star is out with a UCL tear in his right elbow. They're already without Kawhi Leonard, who may not be back until March due to a torn ACL.
Brandon Boston Jr. and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points each for the Clippers, who played relatively well without their stars -- and without Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. due to COVID. They just couldn't overcome another monster game from reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (26 points, 22 rebounds, 8 assists).
"We're missing our best closer," Clippers guard Terance Mann said. "We got to close a game and nearly stole it."
The Clippers have covered the last two after going 1-4 against the spread in their previous five; they were 4-point dogs against the Nuggets and covered the -4 against the Sacramento Kings, as if that's a difficult matchup. Brooklyn, meanwhile, is favored by 4.5 at most books.
Prediction
Which Harden are the Nets going to get? If he doesn't make an impact like he did against the Lakers, I can see the Clippers hanging around toward the end. But if Mills keeps making shots like that, it's going to be tough for L.A. to keep up. Nets by 9
Betting trends
The Nets are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 against Pacific Division teams.
The Nets are 3-10 ATS this season after an over.
The Clippers are 7-13 ATS at home this season.
Projected starting lineup
Nets:
PG: James Harden
SG: Patty Mills
SF: DeAndre’ Bembry
PF: James Johnson
C: Nic Claxton
SF: DeAndre’ Bembry
PF: James Johnson
C: Nic Claxton
Clippers:
PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Luke Kennard
SF: Terance Mann
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Ivica Zubac
SF: Terance Mann
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Ivica Zubac
Key injuries
Nets: Kevin Durant (COVID, out), Kyrie Irving (out), LaMarcus Aldridge (COVID, out), Joe Harris (ankle, out)
Clippers: Paul George (elbow, out), Kawhi Leonard (ACL, out), Marcus Morris Sr. (conditioning, questionable), Reggie Jackson (COVID, out)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
