Los Angeles at Houston

The Los Angeles Clippers have had the Houston Rockets' number in this series as they look to close out the Rockets in five games. They have done a great job containing James Harden, and have not let him get to the line as frequently as he is accustomed to. Harden has also been under duress the entire series, and has turned the ball over five, seven, and nine times in three of the four games. The Clippers have gotten the best of the Howard vs. Griffin matchup or Jordan vs. Howard matchup. Jordan has been a beast for the Clippers as has Griffin, and the Rockets have seen Howard beset with foul trouble in this series all too frequently. Houston has lost the last two games by a combined 58 points, and have not been able to get the offense going. They are going to have to come out and match the defensive intensity of LA early in this game, and I expect with their backs to the wall, they will make a strong assertive effort on the defensive end early, especially with the backing of the home crowd. The trouble is, in the end, LA is playing deeper, and at a higher level, and should once again find the mismatches they have enjoyed inside to take the series in five games. The Clippers have elevated their level of play on the road where they are now an amazing 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21. The first half should be low-scoring and competitive, but I expect it to be all LA down the stretch. Take LA and the first half UNDER.