The Battle of Los Angeles is renewed on Thursday, and it’s a pick’em as the Clippers host the Lakers.
The pregame narrative: Kawhi Leonard has been upgraded to questionable after missing the last three games with a knee contusion. The Clippers have stayed hot in his absence, winning two of three, and are now 13-3 dating back to their last meeting with the Lakers.
Check out my same-game parlay Lakers vs. Clippers picks, featuring prop bets on James Harden and Luka Doncic.
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Lakers vs. Clippers picks
SGP: Doncic 30+ points | Harden 3+ threes | Clippers +3.5 (+330)
Doncic 30+ points (-165): Doncic is a walking 30-piece, and the league’s leading scorer is enjoying his best month of the season to date:
- 33.3 PPG
- 48.6 FG%
- 38.0 3PT%
He’s scored 30-plus points in seven of 10 games in January, with a low of 24 points, where he still took 25 shots.
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The volume is practically always there, and now, Doncic has caught fire from beyond-the-arc: 19-of-41 in his last four games (46.3%).
The Clippers allow the 12th-most 3s per game at the eighth-highest clip, so that’s an area he should exploit.
Doncic has either scored 30 points or come within a basket of scoring 30 points in 16 of his 22 games against the Clippers (2-2 vs. this line since joining the Lakers).
NBA SGP pick
Harden 3+ threes (-165): It seems like playing strong perimeter defence just isn’t trendy in L.A.
The Lakers sit tied with the Clippers in 3-pointers allowed per game (13.6) and have the sixth-highest opponent 3-point percentage (37.1%).
Harden is having a tough month from deep, averaging 2.0 makes on 7.9 attempts per game (25.3%). But he’s still shooting with enough volume that this milestone is in play every night.
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The Beard cleared this line in both games against the Lakers this year, shooting a combined 7-of-24. Ugly? Yes. Does it work? Also, yes.
Harden is averaging 3.0 threes per game on the season at a 34.2% clip, so expect positive regression at some point.
And I’m assuming Leonard will be back in the lineup tonight, which should take some defensive focus off of Harden and give him some more room to operate.
Clippers ATS prediction
Clippers +3.5 (-182): I’m going to buy a few points with the Clippers and tease them up to a modest home underdog. Keep in mind, this line will surely move if Leonard is ruled out.
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Tyronn Lue’s team has been great over the past few weeks, especially at home. They’re 8-1 in their last nine games at Intuit Dome, beating teams like the Lakers, Pistons, Warriors and Rockets.
Defence isn’t either squad’s forte, but I have a little more trust in the Clippers putting the clamps down with Kawhi in the lineup.
With Leonard active, the Clippers are allowing just 105.4 PPG dating back to their 103-88 win over the Lakers on Dec. 20 (13-game sample).
Lakers vs. Clippers picks made at 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2026.
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Avery joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2022 before stepping into a full-time role soon after. He loves betting on and analyzing golf — mainly because it’s easier than actually playing — but is a fan of all sports, from the NFL to the UFC.