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The Clippers-Knicks line for this April 25, 2012 game was coming in at -3 in favor of New York. Receive up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account at Sportsbook.com here today.
Sportsbook.com Line: New York -4 & 191.5
Opening Line & Total: Knicks -3 & 192.5
While both teams are locked into the playoffs, there’s still seeding at stake when the Clippers visit New York on Wednesday night.
The Knicks are still trying to hold off Philly for the No. 7 seed in the East and still have an outside chance at catching Orlando for the No. 6 spot. The Clippers, meanwhile, are one game back of the Lakers for the Pacific Division lead and could fall as far as the No. 5 in the West. New York will have C Tyson Chandler back in the lineup on Wednesday, which should make a huge difference after the team allowed 112 points in Atlanta on Sunday. The Knicks have just been too tough at home since Mike Woodson took over, going 10-1 SU and ATS. They’ve held opponents to 86.6 PPG in those games, and the only two who have topped 100 (Indiana and Boston) did it with three-point shooting, and the Clippers have shot just 34.2% from behind the arc over their past nine road games. Chris Paul tweaked a groin injury in Tuesday’s loss at Atlanta and is questionable for Wednesday, and the Clippers are 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS playing the second half of a road/road back-to-back this year.
L.A. is coming off a disappointing loss at Atlanta on Tuesday, a crucial game in its pursuit of the Lakers. Paul (19.8 PPG, 9.1 APG) was absolutely dominant for a second straight game, going for 34 points while hitting 10-of-20 FG and 4-of-6 from three with eight assists. He’ll attempt to play through his injury, but his minutes may be limited. Over the past six games, Paul is averaging 24.5 PPG and 10.3 APG. PF Blake Griffin (20.6 PPG on 54.6% FG, 10.9 RPG) added 36 points on an absurd 17-for-23 FG versus the Hawks.
But the Clippers burned their stars for 38 minutes apiece on Tuesday, so fatigue could be an issue on Wednesday night. And their supporting cast didn’t get it done in Atlanta, as SF Caron Butler (12.0 PPG), SG Randy Foye (10.7 PPG) and SG Mo Williams (13.3 PPG) combined for 16 points on 7-for-22 FG. It was an especially bitter night for Foye, who went scoreless while missing all three of his shots one game after scoring 24 to key the Clippers’ comeback win over the Hornets. Butler is now 4-for-15 FG over the past two games, while Williams is averaging just 6.7 PPG on 28.6% FG and 1-for-10 from three over the past three contests.
The Knicks are quickly trying to get re-acclimated to PF Amar’e Stoudemire (17.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG) before the playoffs start. They had a worrisome loss at Cleveland on Friday in Stoudemire’s first game back after missing 13 games with back problems, as he scored 15 points in 27 minutes and was typically disinterested on the defensive end. But with Chandler (11.3 PPG on 68.1% FG, 10.0 RPG) out at Atlanta on Sunday, they gave up some defensive ability and went small with Stoudemire playing center. The move paid off on the offensive end, as Stoudemire scored 22 points on 9-for-13 FG with 12 rebounds in a 113-112 win.
Stoudemire and SF Carmelo Anthony (22.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG) meshed just fine on the offensive end, with Anthony going for 39 points and 10 rebounds. In the month since PG Jeremy Lin (14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG) went down with a knee injury and the offense re-focused on Anthony, he’s averaged 29.9 PPG on 49.4% FG and 7.4 RPG over 15 games. And PG Baron Davis (5.9 PPG on 36.2% FG, 4.8 APG) played by far his best game of the season against the Hawks, going for 13 points on 5-for-9 FG (3-for-4 from three) and handing out 10 assists.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
