The Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards will close down their two-game regular-season series on Thursday, March 4, so here’s the best betting pick for this interconference clash at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.  

Back on February 23, the Clippers thrashed off the Wizards 135-116 as 12-point home favorites, tallying their third straight victory over Washington. LA opened as a 6.5-point fave for Thursday’s contest on BetRivers Sportsbook, but the Clippers will probably miss Kawhi Leonard (back) and Marcus Morris (concussion). On the other side, the Wizards are without Thomas Bryant (knee) and Ish Smith (quadriceps). 

The Clippers want to avoid the third straight loss 

The Los Angeles Clippers (24-13; 20-17 ATS) are in crisis, dropping five of their last eight games overall. They haven’t won two straight contests since February 15, but the Clippers still haven’t lost three in a row this season. 

LA is winless in two consecutive outings, suffering a 105-100 loss at Milwaukee and a 117-112 at Boston. Paul George had 32 points against the Celtics, but the Clippers couldn’t overcome Kawhi Leonard’s absence. 

The Clippers are fourth in the Western Conference, four games behind the top-seeded Utah Jazz and three games ahead of fifth-placed San Antonio Spurs. They score 117.9 points per 100 possessions (3^rd in the NBA) on 48.5% shooting from the field (4^th) while yielding 112.2 points in a return (15^th) on 46.8% shooting from the field (18^th). 

The Wizards got routed by Memphis at home 

As well as the Clippers, the Washington Wizards (13-20; 17-16 ATS) are winless in two straight contests, losing at Boston 111-110 as 6.5-point road underdogs and to Memphis 125-111 as 1-point home favorites. 

The Wizards made 50.6% of their field goals against the Grizzlies, but they also committed a whopping 22 turnovers and allowed 56 points in the paint. Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook accounted for 23 points each and combined for 14 turnovers. 

Washington is 13^th in the Eastern Conference, trailing 2.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Charlotte Hornets. The Wizards tally 109.9 points per 100 possessions (22^nd in the NBA) on 46.0% shooting from the field (19^th) while yielding 114.3 points in a return (26^th) on 47.4% shooting from the field (23^rd). 

Trends:

LA Clippers:

• 7-1 ATS in the last eight games against the Southeast Division 

Washington:

• 1-7 ATS in the last eight games against the Clippers 

NBA ATS Picks

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will have to lean more on their role players in the backcourt, while Paul George have to step up against the Wizards’ porous defense. LA is a well-balanced team and should have enough firepower to outlast the Wizards. 

Washington has played well since the mid-February. However, they have a lot of problems on the defensive end. They struggle to protect the rim which could be a decisive factor against the Clippers. Hereof, give me the visitors and points. 

Pick: Take Los Angeles Clippers -6.5 at -110 

The Total:

The over has hit in nine of the last ten encounters between the Clippers and Wizards including the previous five. Washington has been terrible defensively thus far, and the Wizards are the fifth-worst team in the league when it comes to defending the 3-point line. The Clippers are a better defensive team in this matchup, no doubt, but they also have some flaws. 

Therefore, I’m backing the over on the totals. The Clippers average only 97.3 possessions per 48 minutes (27^th in the NBA), but the Wizards play at the fastest pace in the league, recording 104.0 possessions per 48 minutes, so the hosts will try their best to speed up things. 

Pick: Go over 235.5 points at -110    

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