Posted on 4/15/2008 5:08:00 PM

NBA Basketball Betting – Clippers vs. Hornets

By D.S Williamson

Los Angeles Clippers (+ 15) vs. New Orleans Hornets (- 15)

Tonight’s matchup in online basketball betting odds is a gift. The Hornets desperately need a win. New Orleans is now a game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the top seed in the Western Conference after losing 3 out of their last 4 games. The Hornets must take care of their lead in the Southwest Division. If they possibly lose one or both of their final two games, the Hornets could very well go from hosting a playoff series in the first-round to going on the road in the first-round. Against the BetUS spread the Hornets have been so-so going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. At home the Hornets are a very respectable 25 and 15 against the BetUS spread this season.

They are also very lucky to get to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Clippers are just dreadful. With their fate this season already decided, I doubt the Clippers will come out of their locker room with the attitude that there is a lot to gain from upsetting the Hornets on the road. Against the BetUS spread the Clippers have been phenomenally bad, going 4 and 6 in their last 10 games and 33 and 47 on the season. Here are more trends.

The Los Angeles Clippers are 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 games on a Tuesday night.

The New Orleans Hornets are 5-1-1 against the spread in their last 7 games on a Tuesday night.

The New Orleans Hornets are 8 and 2 against the spread in their last 10 games as a favorite at home.

The Over is 4 and 1 in the Los Angeles Clippers last 5 games versus a team from the NBA Southwest Division.

The Under is 7 and 1 in the New Orleans Hornets last 8 games versus a team from the Western Conference.

The BetUS over/under in this game is 198 points. That’s a difficult wager at best in this game since the Clippers are never hot and the Hornets have gone cold. If the Hornets win this game, they will probably do it through their defense. Chris Paul, the Hornets terrific point-guard, just hasn’t been playing as well as he was during the earlier part of the season. He’s only shooting 33% from the field in his last four games. He’s also only averaged around 13 points a game. This, after averaging 18 points a game for much of the season.

Maybe the threat of success has something to do with how the Hornets have been playing lately. Does this team really believe that it can challenge the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz or Phoenix Suns for Western Conference supremacy? Maybe, they don’t. Maybe all of the talk regarding Chris Paul and the league MVP has sort of caused him to play underneath his usual level. It’s happened before to great players and great teams.

Anyhow, I don’t think that the Hornets turn things around all that much on Tuesday night. They won’t lose to the Clippers, but they won’t beat them by 15 points either.

The BetUS line is Los Angeles Clippers + 15 against the spread on the road versus the New Orleans Hornets.

As bad as the Clippers are, the Hornets are suffering from a lack of confidence. That will hurt them in this game. I think the Clippers beat the spread.

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!