The Los Angeles Lakers (26-16) and Los Angeles Clippers (19-24) square off at Intuit Dome on Thursday night in a Western Conference showdown between in-city rivals.
The Lakers, led by PG Luka Doncic, look to extend a two-game winning streak, while SF Kawhi Leonard’s status looms large and PG James Harden shoulders more of the Clippers’ offensive burden. Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Below, we'll break down a Lakers vs. Clippers prediction and list top picks on PrizePicks for Thursday, including ones for Doncic and Harden.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Lakers vs. Clippers Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The Lakers enter Thursday’s matchup riding Doncic’s recent dominance, with the star guard in one of the most explosive stretches of his L.A. tenure. Doncic has driven their surge with elite scoring and playmaking, giving Los Angeles the offensive punch it badly needed.
Lakers F LeBron James remains the steady hand in a partnership with Doncic that’s finally clicking at the right time.
The Clippers, meanwhile, face a tough test. With their offensive rhythm slipping, their second team has also struggled to sustain defensive intensity. Leonard’s status remains uncertain; the Clippers have averaged just 113.7 points over his three-game absence.
Lakers vs. Clippers Over/Under, Spread
The Lakers are 1.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.85x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Clippers, home underdogs, also return a 1.85x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
- Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -1.5
- Over/Under: 223.5
- Gamer Winner Payout: Lakers 1.85x | Clippers 1.85x
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
Lakers vs. Clippers Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Lakers vs. Clippers injury report for Thursday, via NBA.com.
Lakers Injury Report
- SG Austin Reaves (calf): OUT
- G-F Adou Thiero (MCL): OUT
Clippers Injury Report
- SG Bradley Beal (hip): OUT
- G-F Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring): OUT
- F Derrick Jones Jr. (knee): OUT
- SF Kawhi Leonard (knee): Questionable
Lakers vs. Clippers Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Lakers vs. Clippers prediction on the spread today on PrizePicks Team Picks.
- The Lakers are 23-19-0 against the spread (54.8%), ranking among the league’s top 10 cover teams. They’re 6-5-0 ATS as road favorites (54.6%).
- The Clippers are 20-23-0 ATS (46.5%) and have failed to cover in two straight. They're 4-2 ATS (66.7%) as home underdogs.
- Despite the recent skid, the Clippers are 5-2 ATS over their last seven, while the Lakers have covered two straight but are 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10.
- Head coach JJ Redick's crew has the NBA's top field goal percentage on 2-pointers (59.8).
- Tyronn Lue's Clippers bunch is 26th in scoring at 112.3 PPG and has the 19th-ranked average scoring margin (-1.4).
Lakers vs. Clippers Picks for PrizePicks Today: Thursday, January 22
Here are two of the top Lakers vs. Clippers picks on PrizePicks Player Picks for Thursday, January 22. Player projections via the PrizePicks real-money NBA game.
Lakers PG Luka Doncic vs. Clippers Projection: 48.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- Doncic averages a career-high 49.9 combined points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) this season (33.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 8.7 APG).
- Against the Clippers specifically, Doncic averages 31.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists for his career (47.1 PRA).
- Doncic's 36.8% usage rate leads the entire NBA, and his 61.8% true shooting percentage since January 1 reflects elite efficiency on massive volume. The Clippers allow opposing PGs to average 24.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 8.9 APG.
- His 39.4% assist rate and his 10.9% total rebounding percentage places him among the top-15 among all guards.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Clippers PG James Harden vs. Lakers Projection: 36.5 Pts + Asts
- Harden averages 34.0 combined points and assists (26.0 PPG, 8.0 APG).
- The Lakers rank 25th in defensive rating (117.8). Against them, specifically, Harden averages 34.5 combined points and assists this year (25.0 PPG, 9.5 APG).
- Harden’s 30.3% usage rate ranks second on the Clippers behind Leonard, and his 35.6% assist rate is among the best at the position. The Lakers allow PGs to average 25.8 points and 5.2 assists.
- The Beard continues to live at the line with 8.8 free throw attempts per game, and the Lakers’ 19.6 personal fouls a night could give him plenty of chances to capitalize.
Make Lakers vs. Clippers Picks on PrizePicks
Lakers vs. Clippers on Thursday isn’t the only way basketball fans can make NBA picks.
Make your predictions on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued NBA predictions, picks, and news.
Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state. Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.
