Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | December 18, 2015
LA Clippers @ SA Spurs (-7.5)
San Antonio Spurs’ perfect 14-0 record on home court will be on the line on Friday when they play host to the Los Angeles Clippers as heavy 7.5-point favourites in NBA betting with Coral.
The Spurs have been a powerhouse during the first third of the campaign, quietly posting 22 straight up victories in their first 27 games, while consistently rewarding loyal sports betters with an NBA-best 18-9 record against the spread.
A stingy defense has powered the Spurs’ fast start, allowing just 88.2 opposition points per game, also tops in the Association, surrendering 100 or more points on just five occasions.
The veteran-laden Spurs are coming off a 114-95 win over Washington on Wednesday night, covering as 13-point chalk to extend their current SU and ATS win streak to four games ahead of Friday night’s battle with the Clippers at AT&T Center.
San Antonio has been simply dominant during their current hot streak, claiming victory by an average margin of 25.75 points per game while covering big double-digit spreads in three of their four wins.
The Clippers have also shown signs of life following a sluggish start, winning their last three contests, and nine of their past 11, but continue to be a major betting disappointment, where they have failed to post ATS wins in back-to-back games since their first two outings of the season.
Los Angeles is coming off a recent successful road trip, in which they won four of five SU, but managed to eke out just one ATS win, and are winless SU and ATS in three of four as betting underdogs.
Wednesday’s tilt with Milwaukee proved to be a tonic for the Clips, who picked up their first ATS victory as double-digit favourites since October in a 103-90 win. Los Angeles also has recent trends on their side, topping the Spurs in three of their last four meetings overall, and in three of their last four visits to Alamo City.
MIL Bucks @ GS Warriors (-19.5)
The Bucks will also be in action on Friday, looking for lightning to strike twice when they visit the Golden State Warriors as 18.5-point underdogs.
Currently last in the Central Division standings, Milwaukee shocked the basketball world with last week’s 108-95 home win over the Warriors, handing Golden State their first defeat of the season and halting their record-setting winning streak out of the gate at 24 games.
While home court has been kind to the Bucks this season, posting a respectable 8-5 SU against visitors, the Bucks are a dismal 2-12 SU on the road, and arrive in The City amid a 11-game SU road losing streak, failing to cover as double-digit underdogs on three occasions.
The Warriors got back to business as usual on Wednesday night, pounding the Phoenix Suns by a 128-103 score, ending a brief two-game ATS winless streak, and extending their home SU winning streak to 12 games, scoring 104 or more points in each of those contests.
Following Friday night’s tilt, the Warriors enjoy four days rest before hosting Utah on Wednesday, while the Bucks travel to Phoenix on Sunday, before returning home to battle the woeful Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
In other American basketball action on Friday, the Jazz play host to the Denver Nuggets as 5.5-point chalk, while the Suns are favoured by 3.5 over the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Sixers look for just their second win of the season when they host the New York Knicks as 6.5-point underdogs.
