Free NBA Picks Today: Toronto Raptors vs Los Angeles Clippers 12/27/22

The Los Angeles Clippers (20-15, 9-8 Away), one of the league’s top scoring defenses, are on the road to face the Toronto Raptors (15-18, 10-6 Home) on Tuesday. Los Angeles is playing on back-to-back days after topping the Detroit Pistons 142-131 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena yesterday.

Paul George had a standout performance with 32 points and 11 assists. The Clippers are fifth in the Western Conference. Toronto got the win on Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-107. Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby tallied 26 points apiece to lead the team in scoring.

With 25 points and 10 rebounds, Scottie Barnes also had a strong game. The Raptors are 10th in the Eastern Conference. It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams. Toronto won both games between the teams last season, the last of which was a 103-100 triumph at Crypto.com Arena on March 16.

Siakam led the Raptors with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Reggie Jackson had 23 points in the losing effort. The Clips have been led this season by George, who is averaging 23.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac is grabbing 10.9 rebounds per game, seventh-most in the NBA, and John Wall is dishing 5.4 assists.

Fred VanVleet (19.0 ppg), Anunoby (18.9), and Gary Trent Jr. (16.6) have supplied much of the Raptors’ offense. VanVleet also has tallied 6.0 assists per game. Meanwhile, Barnes has averaged 6.7 rebounds per game. The Clippers rank as one of the toughest scoring defenses in the league, third-best with 108.5 points per game allowed.

The Raptors have had the advantage in the last 10 games between the teams at Scotiabank Arena, winning seven. Toronto is looking to avoid a fourth straight loss at home this season. Meanwhile, the Clippers are 2-5 this season when playing two days in a row and 0-5 in such games against rested opponents.

The Raptors are 3-3 with a rest advantage.In the last 10 games, Los Angeles is 6-4 with an average margin of +4.8 (112.6-107.8). Toronto has a 3-7 record over the last 10, allowing 113.9 points per game on average while scoring only 112.5 (-1.4 margin).

CLIPPERS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Kawhi Leonard: 34.7 | 23.9 | +10.8
Points per game:
Kawhi Leonard: 25.0 | 15.1 | +9.9
Assists per game:
Paul George: 7.7 | 5.2 | +2.4

RAPTORS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Malachi Flynn: 14.6 | 9.6 | +5.0
Gary Trent Jr.: 12.0 | 20.0 | -8.0
Points per game:
Gary Trent Jr.: 8.0 | 16.6 | -8.6