The New York Knicks continue their West Coast trip on Monday night with a visit to face the Los Angeles Clippers. New York enters the game firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a 41-24 record after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon. The Clippers have hovered around the middle of the Western Conference standings at 31-32 but have also shown solid form lately with six wins in their last 10 contests entering this Knicks vs Clippers contest.
Our Knicks vs Clippers Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Knicks @ LA Clippers
- Date & Time: Monday, March 9, 10:00 PM ET
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- Broadcast: Peacock
Key Storylines
New York arrives with one of the strongest records in the East and has played excellent basketball over the past two weeks. The Knicks have delivered several dominant wins recently, including a 142-103 victory over Denver that highlighted their offensive firepower. But they struggled at Crypto.com Arena against the Lakers on Sunday and will try to be better one day later in Inglewood at Intuit Dome.
The Clippers have also remained competitive thanks to star performances from Kawhi Leonard. However, Los Angeles has dealt with injuries throughout the season, including the loss of Bradley Beal and the absence of John Collins. They also traded away James Harden, requiring the Clippers to rely more heavily on Leonard, along with Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin.
Key Players
LA Clippers Key Players
- Kawhi Leonard leads Los Angeles with about 28 points per game while shooting nearly 49.5% from the field. He also contributes 6.3 rebounds and strong defense on the wing, making him the focal point of the Clippers’ offense and defense.
- Darius Garland provides additional scoring and playmaking when healthy, averaging more than 5 assists per game and helping space the floor. He hasn’t played much since joining the Clippers, but could be a huge piece for them down the stretch if he appears on the floor more consistently.
New York Knicks Key Players
- Jalen Brunson continues to lead the Knicks offense with about 26 points and more than 6 assists per game. His ability to score in isolation and control tempo makes him the engine of the team’s offense.
- Karl-Anthony Towns anchors the frontcourt with around 24 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game. His shooting ability stretches defenses while his rebounding creates extra possessions.
- Mikal Bridges provides two-way value with efficient shooting and perimeter defense while averaging around 16 points per game. When he gets hot from three-point range, the Knicks become so much harder to stop.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | New York Knicks | LA Clippers |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 117.2 | 112.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 110.6 | 112.2 |
| Team Field Goal % | 47% | 48% |
| Rebounds per game | 46.1 | 41.1 |
| Assists per game | 27.4 | 23.4 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The Knicks defeated the Clippers 123-111 at Madison Square Garden in the first meeting of the season between these teams.
- Knicks ATS record: 36-30
- Clippers ATS record: 34-29
- Knicks over/under record: 31-35
- Clippers over/under record: 32-31
Knicks vs Clippers Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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