The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The game starts at 9:30 pm ET on Monday, May 4 and will air on TNT.
The Rockets beat the Mavericks 103-94 the last time they played. James Harden was the game’s high scorer with 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting. Chris Paul led the team in scoring with 27 points on 9-for-13 shooting.
The aggressive Rockets offense seems focused on getting to the foul line. They rank second in the NBA at getting to the stripe (free throw attempt rate of 31.2), while Los Angeles is among the league’s most foul-prone squads (giving up a 29th-ranked free throw attempt rate of 31.2). Also, the Clippers commit the second-fewest errors in the NBA (turnover percentage of 12.1%), while the ball-hawking defense of the Rockets causes the fifth-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 15.5%).
The odds are even for this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. The Rockets enter the game with records of 56-26 Straight Up (SU) and 48-34 Against The Spread (ATS). They have gone 33-19 SU and 30-22 ATS against teams from the Western Conference. The Rockets are an impressive three-point shooting team with an NBA-best 933 made (11.4 per game). If its opponents turn the ball over, Houston has shown that it knows how to capitalize. They average 18.9 points off turnovers, making them the fourth-best team in the league for that category.
Across the court, Los Angeles has a SU record of 56-26 and an ATS record of 38-44. Los Angeles has a record of 37-15 SU and 24-28 ATS against the West. When it comes to making good decisions with the ball, nobody is better than the Clippers. They are the top assist-to-turnover ratio team in the league at 2.10.
Following the Rockets’ latest win over Los Angeles, their SU record rises to 7-3 over the Rockets in the last 10 games. The Clippers also hold the advantage ATS with a record of 6-4. Los Angeles had the advantage in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) twice over the last 10. Houston has had the edge in all categories once.
Predictions: SU Winner – HOU, ATS Winner – HOU
Notes
Los Angeles’ offense and Houston’s defense are well matched, ranking zeroth in points per game and points allowed per game respectively. Los Angeles scores an average of 0.0 points per game, while Houston gives up 0.0 points per game.
Los Angeles and Houston are well matched, ranking zeroth in points per away game and points allowed at home respectively. Los Angeles scores an average of 0.0 points on the road, while Houston allows 0.0 points at home on average.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Rockets are 35-4 on the season. When the Clippers score fewer than 100, they are a losing 8-14.
When the Houston Rockets allow at least 100 points they are 21-22, while the Los Angeles Clippers are 48-12 when they register triple digits.
The Clippers have a defensive rating of 102.7 (ranked 16th). The Rockets rank 12th for their offensive rating of 104.0.
The Houston Rockets average 100.0 possessions per game and 1.040 points per possession, while the Los Angeles Clippers earn fewer possessions (97.5) but more points per possession (1.095).
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking second in the league with an EFF% of 53.3%. When their opponents record a similar or higher EFF%, the Houston Rockets have an abysmal 3-14 record.
The Houston Rockets average 32.7 three point attempts per game, and the Los Angeles Clippers attempt 26.9 per game. When going for at least 25 three pointers in a game this season, both teams have winning records; Houston is 53-24 and Los Angeles is 37-16.
The Los Angeles Clippers top the league in assist to turnover ratio this season with an A/TO of 2.10. The Houston Rockets have an A/TO of 1.39 (ranked 27th).
The Rockets rank 14th in rebounds per game with 43.7, while the Clippers rank 20th with 42.6 per game.
Houston is ranked 18th in defensive rebounds, while Los Angeles ranks 28th in offensive rebounds.
Houston ranks fifth in forced turnovers with an average rate of 15.5%. Los Angeles has a 4-6 record when they suffer a turnover rate equal to or exceeding this.
