Washington at LA Clippers NBA Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info

Terrific matchup of All-Star point guards on Wednesday night when the Washington Wizards make their only trip of the season to the Los Angeles Clippers. Of course the Wizards are led by perhaps the NBA’s fastest point guard in John Wall, while the Clippers have arguably the NBA’s best all-around point guard in Chris Paul. The Clippers should be slight NBA lines favorites.

Washington at LA Clippers NBA Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info

Power to the Playoffs | Presented by @wglenergy

Everything you need to know about our playoff push. https://t.co/JbiRBMWFI4 pic.twitter.com/hRz9IjeKaw — Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 27, 2017

When: Wednesday, March 29, 10:30 PM ET Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles TV: NBA League Pass Stream: NBA.tv Radio: Washington / Los Angeles NBA Odds: Clippers favored by TBA

Why Bet on Washington?

It’s the second of a back-to- back for the Wizards but at least they don’t have to worry about travel as they were at the Lakers on Tuesday. Bojan Bogdanovic (back) and Ian Mahinmi (hip) practiced in full on Monday. Bogdanovic sat out Saturday’s game with a stiff back, and Mahinmi was limited to nine minutes after catching a knee to the hip via Richard Jefferson on Saturday night, but them going through a full practice is a good sign regarding their status for Tuesday night’s matchup with the Lakers and then Wednesday vs. the Clippers. This year, Wall should reach his self-stated goal of being a four-time All-Star (accomplished) and first-time All-NBA player. It’s just a question of if it’ll be on the first, second or third team. It’s not just about Wall’s individual accomplishments – career highs of 23 points, 10.8 assists and 2.0 steals – it’s his team’s success that should help him achieve that recognition. The Wizards (45-28) haven’t had an All-NBA player since Gilbert Arenas was second team in 2006-07 and third team in 2005-06 and 2004-05. Rod Strickland made it as a second-team selection for Washington in 1997-98. Wall has 20 double-doubles in road games, the eighth most in the NBA (third most among guards). The Wizards are 29-12 in the New Year, the second most wins in NBA (Golden State). They are 19-7 when starting five each score double figures. Washington clinched a playoff berth on March 24, marking the sixth time Scott Brooks has led a team into the postseason Washington became the 13th team since 1983-84 to make the playoffs after starting a season 2-8 or worse. Washington has at least 10 wins in three months (December, January, March), first time with 10+ wins in three months since 1974-75. Washington has seven of its last nine games on the road, Wizards are 10-4 on the road since Jan. 27

Why Bet on Clippers?

There’s no other way to sugarcoat what the Clippers did Sunday in a 98-97 home loss to Sacramento: they choked. L.A. blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead. The Kings’ Willie Cauley-Stein made a follow shot with two seconds left for the win. DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, with Paul adding 17 points and nine assists. Blake Griffin finished with 17 points. The Clippers have lost 10 of their last 19 games, and fell a game behind Utah for fourth place in the Western Conference with nine games remaining in the regular season. Jordan is shooting better than 75 percent in March, pushing his season average to a league-leading 70.6 percent. He’s shot 70+ percent twice before in his career, and he joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only qualifying players to do that in a full season. Austin Rivers started Sunday’s game in place of J.J. Redick (sprained right ankle), shooting 4-of- 13 with a pair of 3-pointers for 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 43 minutes. In 28 starts this season, the coach’s son has averaged 16.3 points on 46.3 percent shooting, 2.3 triples, 2.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.7 steals in 34.3 minutes. The Clippers look to avoid the sweep as they lost 117-110 in Washington on Dec. 18. Bradley Beal scored 41 points — including 18 during the third quarter — for Washington. Wall added 18 points and 11 assists for the Wizards. After going down by seven, Washington closed the game on a 22-8 run to seal the game. The Wizards shot 80 percent (12 of 15) from the floor in the fourth, and on the other end held Griffin scoreless after he had scored 26 in his first three periods. Jordan added 13 points and 17 rebounds Los Angeles, which played the final 1:08 without ejected coach Doc Rivers.

Washington at LA Clippers Expert Pick: Washington Wizards

Los Angeles has won eight straight games vs. Washington at Staples Center. Make it nine.