The Los Angeles Clippers (30-31) and San Antonio Spurs (45-17) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Spurs are 6.5-point favorites over the Clippers on the spread (Spurs -6.5), with the over/under set at 222.5 total points. San Antonio is a -278 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +225 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks for Friday, March 6.
Clippers vs Spurs Prediction, Picks
- Clippers vs Spurs pick: Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 Points (-110)
My Spurs vs. Clippers best bet is on Kawhi Leonard to score under 27.5 points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs Spurs Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -105 | 222.5 -110o / -110u | +225 |
| Spurs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -115 | 222.5 -110o / -110u | -278 |
Clippers vs Spurs NBA Preview
San Antonio has won seven of the eight games and appears set to return to the postseason for the first time since 2018-19.
The Spurs have ranked fifth in scoring (118.9) and fifth in scoring defense (105.9) since Feb. 19. Everyone is doing their part to keep the team running like a well-oiled machine.
No Spurs player has been more impactful than Victor Wembanyama, though.
Wemby has averaged 20.4 points, 12.0 rebounds and a ridiculous 4.6 blocks per contest over his previous eight outings. Opposing teams have shot a league-low 41.0% against San Antonio during that stretch.
That stingy defense could prove to be a serious problem for a Clippers team that is trying to climb back into the playoff picture.
Things didn't look good for Los Angeles when it sent James Harden to the Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland, but the team has looked better since the trade deadline on Feb. 5.
The Clippers have gone 7-4 straight up since the trade deadline, and Kawhi Leonard's offensive excellence has been the driving force behind their success.
The Klaw, who averages a career-high 27.9 points on borderline 50-40-90 shooting splits, has tallied 28.9 points per contest since the trade deadline.
It might not be easy to generate good looks in his first meeting with the Spurs this season, though.
Harrison Barnes (ankle) is listed as day-to-day for San Antonio. Garland (toe) and John Collins (neck) have been ruled out for Los Angeles.
Clippers vs Spurs Predictions, Betting Analysis
My favorite player prop for this game is Kawhi Leonard under 27.5 points.
Leonard is one of the league's most dynamic scorers, but San Antonio is on a tremendous defensive run and will heavily scheme to force the Clippers' less efficient players to take shots.
The Spurs have done a great job slowing down the top scorers on opposing teams.
No player has scored 27 points against San Antonio in its previous 11 games.
I think there's a good chance the streak will reach 12 games, given how well the Spurs have kept the score low at the Frost Bank Center this season.
Pick: Kawhi Leonard Under 27.5 Points (-110)
Spread
I'm staying away from the spread in tonight's game.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Total: Under 222.5 (Lean)
Bettors should not expect shootouts very often in San Antonio.
The Under is 17-9 in Spurs home games this season, and lack of rest hasn't affected their defensive effort. The Under is 8-4 when the Spurs are in the second leg of a back-to-back.
San Antonio routinely makes scoring difficult for opposing teams at the Frost Bank Center, and it can continue to do so on Friday against a bottom-10 offense that's averaging just 112.4 points per game this season.
