Game Time: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, January 31st, 2022 

Venue:  Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: NL

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread: NL

WynnBet: Spread:  NL

Clippers: 25-26 7th place, Western Conference

Pacers: 18-33 13th place, Eastern Conference

A non-conference battle between a mid-level Western Conference team and a bottom of the barrel Eastern Conference team.  Both the Clippers and Pacers have suffered from key roster injuries all season long.  For both teams this season feels like a lost year.  There is a caveat though.  The Clippers are performing well enough to be a playoff contender… and if the Clippers get their stars back in time (Paul George, Kawhi Leonard) for the playoffs… poof!  Instant Championship contender.  That may sound silly but without their stars the Clippers have found a clear 3rd option on their team.  SG Luke Kennard has exposed himself as the offensive dynamo he is.  We all know it now.  He is clearly one of the best shooters in the NBA and has been able to heat up and go electric in the fourth quarter of several recent games.  When PG-13 and the Claw return, they would be smart to drive the paint and kick to Kennard instead of shooting it themselves.  The Pacers on the other hand will definitely need the trade deadline that is just a week away… They should make a big move not for this year, but to prepare for the rest of this decade.  They need a real rebuild or their timeline won’t fit any of the good players they have now.  They need picks and young players… star PF/C Domantas Sabonis would make a great Golden State Warrior… while Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga (or/and James Wiseman) and some future picks would hasten Indiana’s return to glory.  That would also allow for a Malcolm Brogdon move.. And who knows which Boston Celtic you could get for a PG that good?…. Voila!, New team, new prospects.

The Los Angeles Clippers are killing the comeback game.  It has been extraordinary, especially knowing that everyone sees the current iteration of the Clippers as a bunch of scrubs.   The Clippers are 5-5 over their last ten games, but 7-3 ATS in that stretch.  This game against the Pacers will be the last of a massive road trip that the Clippers take every season to make room in Staples Center… er Crypto.com arena for the Grammys.  Even though the Grammys haven’t really needed the arena during Covid the schedule still lands the trip.  The Clippers will have been on the road for 8 games in a row before they make it home again. SG Luke Kennard has announced himself as an overlooked star… he only averages 12.3 ppg so he won’t be getting the NBA’s sixth man of the year award… but over the 8 game trip he has been the heart and soul of the entire Clipper organization… averaging 16 points while shooting 48.4 % from the field and 43.2% from beyond the arc.  All this after returning to the lineup from injury. Those are the type of numbers that make a guy a starter… but on a hot streak everyone knows not to change what a guy is doing.

The Indiana Pacers have only won 3 of their last 10 games.  In that stretch they are 4-5-1 ATS.  They aren’t really making these games competitive… Too many important starters are out.  The Pacers star PF Domantas Sabonis is having a great season in the stat column, but no wins of note to show for it.  The good news for Indiana is that SG Caris LeVert is playing well after health problems derailed last season and SF Justin Holiday hasn’t missed a game yet this year because of injury, just Covid (he’s the only one).   Things have gotten so bad for this team that to fill a need at guard they brought SG Lance Stephenson back to the league after two years out… he played ok enough to earn a contract for the rest of the year.  Word from scouts across the league is that we have all gotten a final answer on SG Jeremy Lamb… the #12 pick in the 2012 draft who has bounced from the Oklahoma City Thunder (3 years) to the Charlotte Hornets (4 years) to the Pacers (3rd season) each team hoping he could become the 3rd option… in his 10th season the verdict is finally in… his ceiling is 7 ppg and mediocre defense.  Expect not to see him in the league come next contract time.

Today, Big Al looks for a great day, and is back on the NBA hardwood with this NBA High Roller Winner out of a 57-34 ATS angle. Don't miss out on the roundball $$$$. Get on board right now! Go get it! Get Big Al’s picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Clippers are 25-26 on the season AND 25-26 ATS.  They have logged 23 Overs, 27 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 10-14 in road games.

The Pacers are 18-33 on the season, but 24-24-3 ATS.  They have notched 25 Overs, 25 Unders, and 1 Push

 

The Clippers are 25th in offense with 105.7 ppg, 23rd in rebounds with 43.8 per game, and 24th in AST/TO ratio with 1.6.  They are shooting 22nd in FG%, 10th in 3PT%, and 8th in FT%

The Pacers are 16th in scoring with 108.6 ppg, 17th in rebounds with 44.6 per game, and 17th in AST/TO ratio with 1.7. They have shot 16th in FG%, 26th in 3PT%, and 18th in FT%.  They struggle on defense ranked 21st while allowing 110.7 ppg.

 

Our prediction for Monday, January 31st is….  Clippers 110 - Pacers 101

The Clippers will win the final road game of their long trip.  They will also cover.  The trend that really matters is the Clippers have been covering spreads lately and the Pacers have not… that is a direct reflection of the spiral each team is in… the Clippers are upbeat while the Pacers are simply preparing for their season to be over.

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The Clippers are 4-0 ATS versus Indiana the last 3 seasons.

3 of those 4 games went Over.

The Clippers are 2-0 ATS Versus Indiana at Indiana the last 3 seasons.

Clippers: SG Nicholas Batum (back) Out ** PF Marcus Morris SR (personal) Probable ** SF Paul George (elbow) Out ** SF Kawhi Loenard (knee) Out

Pacers: C Goga Bitadze (foot) Quest ** SG Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) Out ** SF TJ Warren (foot) ** TJ McConnell (wrist) Out ** C Myles Turner (foot) Out

Clippers: SF Terrence Mann, PF Marcus Morris SR, C Ivica Zubac, PG Reggie Jackson, SG Imer Coffey

Pacers: SF Justin Holiday, PF Torrey Craig, C Domantas Sabonis, PG Chris Duarte, SG Caris LeVert

Clippers

Points: Paul George 24.7

Assists: Paul George 5.5

Rebounds: Ivica Zubac 8.0

Steals: Paul George 2.0

Blocks: Isaiah Hartenstein 1.1

Pacers

Points: Domantas Sabonis 19.1

Assists: Malcolm Brogdon 5.9

Rebounds: Domantas Sabonis 12.1

Steals: Chris Duarte 1.1

Blocks: Myles Turner 2.8

Clippers: Tyronne Lue

Pacers: Rick Carlisle