LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS +8.5 - The Clippers would be sky high for this meeting with the Lakers under normal circumstances, and that is doubly true here since the game is on national television on TNT. The Clips are starting to resemble the giant-killers here at Staples that they were last season, as they knocked of arguably the hottest team in basketball, Sacramento, in their last game here. Interestingly, although the Lakers took 3 out of 4 in the head-to-head series last season, the Clippers? lone win came in a TNT game, and they also beat the Sonics last week the last time they were on national TV. The Lakers are finally starting to win some games, but their defense remains a major concern. They are ranked an alarming #22 in the NBA in defense, and the Clippers definitely have the athleticism to take advantage of this. They are coming off of a 108-104 shootout loss at Houston, and I expect another tight, high-scoring game here, so this big line seems to offer some nice value.
