The San Antonio Spurs have had a rough start this 2019 NBA season.
So far they are six and thirteen and recently had an epic losing streak that stretched for eight games. They finally got a win over in New York against the Knicks, but still … that brings their last 11 to a record of 1-10.
It doesn’t get any easier for them this Thanksgiving weekend. They host the Los Angeles Clippers, who are regarded as the top team in the Western Conference – depending on who you talk to– and then head over to the motor city to face the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Sportsbooks have the Spurs listed as 4.5-point home underdogs against the Clips on Friday night – but before you think about hopping into the action, check this intertops review first.
Let’s have a look at how the Spurs fare this weekend against the Clippers and then Pistons.
Clippers Sail into San Antonio
The Los Angeles Clippers are on a hot streak. They have won seven games straight and 12 of their last 15. But last time around, the Spurs put up a good fight at the Staples Center against the Clippers, losing just 103 to 97. Now the tables have turned and the Clips have to come into AT&T Center.
LA by the Numbers
The Clippers are putting up a little over 114 points per game, but unfortunately for Spurs fans, they have played a bit better on the road, improving their average scoring stat to 116.29 per road meeting. The Spurs have played equally well on offense at home and on the road, averaging 112 points per game in front of the home crowd.
The Clippers road defense could be the thing that helps the Spurs add another win to their record. Right now the Clips are allowing 116.29 points per game on the road. The Spurs are not much better at home, allowing 115.4, but still. It ends up creating a three-point scoring margin between the two teams. Sure that margin favors the Clippers, but the Spurs are within kicking distance and with an energetic home crowd, they have a great opportunity to steal a home win.
All in all, they are very valuable to cover the point spread, which can be found at +5 at a few shops.
Detroit by the Numbers
The Pistons average 107.24 points per game, but so far they have been a disappointment in the Eastern Conference. Back at 11th place, they have lost 12 games and won just 6. Their overall defense has been the main culpable factor – allowing more than 109 per game. However, they do have a top ten home defense that lets just 106.25 points per game get by them in Little Ceasars Arena.
The Spurs 111.56 points per game on the road just slightly outdoes the Pistons home scoring. But they have been allowing 115 during road games, so they’ll have to tighten that up in Detroit if they want to get a Sunday win. That said, historically, the Spurs have dominated the Pistons. They own eight wins out of the last 10 meetings and in the most recent three matchups, the Spurs have taken two. The last time they played was February 27th and the won 105-93 in San An. Back in January, the Spurs beat the Pistons 119 to 107 in Detroit and quite frankly, this was a better Pistons team than they have now.
I expect the Spurs to be slight road underdogs, but I like them to get a road win on Sunday. They will play tough against the Clippers then go over to Detroit and grab a win that hopefully, starts the ball rolling the right direction again … gaining some positive momentum.
After Detroit, they have a couple of tough games against the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings before getting a bad Cleveland Cavs team and a neutral court meeting with a Phoneix Suns team that is trying to hang on to that No. 8 seed.
Hold on to your pants, it’s going to be a wild ride over the next week or two of Spurs Basketball.
