Both Washington and Los Angeles fell to defeats on Tuesday, with the Wizards being downed by the Bulls and the Clippers bested by their rivals, the Lakers.
Each will be keen to bounce back when they clash in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, although it is easier to have faith in the Californian side than Washington, despite LA’s inferior record.
The defeat to the Lakers will have knocked the confidence of Keaton Wagler and co, but not enough for them to struggle against a second-string Wizards side.
Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Clippers Prediction, Props and Best Bets
Los Angeles Clippers ML (-105)
The Clippers may boast a worse record than their opponents - they are 1-2 while Washington are 2-1 - but the balance has been tipped firmly in their favor thanks to one decision from the Wizards.
Washington have shut down number-one pick AJ Dybantsa in an attempt to keep him fit for the NBA’s regular season and that leaves them looking a bit light on offense, given he scored 50 points across his two Summer League appearances.
It is no coincidence that the Wizards lost their first game without Dybantsa after winning their opening two and the trend is likely to continue against LA, who impressed in a 104-82 win over Utah before losing to an in-form Lakers side that are now 3-0.
They need to shoot better from three than the 24% they knocked down against the Lakers but that is likely as Washington does not employ as suffocating a defense as the Purple and Gold.
Over 181.5 Points (-110)
With Dybantsa out for the Wizards and LA not really getting it together from beyond the arc in Vegas, a low-scoring game will be a popular pick for punters.
However, the line is extremely low, especially when accounting for the Clippers’ likely improvement - Wagler did not get drafted fifth because he can’t shoot.
Only one of Washington’s Summer League outings has finished with fewer than 182 points - and even that saw 180 scored - while LA have seen this line land in two of their three matches, too.
Dybantsa may lead to fewer points being scored by the Wizards but it also leaves them without their best defender. The Bulls put up 97 points in their win over Washington and the Clippers could have a field day against a weakened defense.
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Washington Wizards vs. Los Angeles Clippers odds
Washington Wizards | -115 |
Los Angeles Clippers | -105 |
Spread | WAS Wizards -1.5 |
Total Points | O/U 181.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
