Likely NBA Odds Make New Orleans Attractive Fave vs. Clippers

The likely NBA betting odds on the L.A. Clippers versus the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, February 23rd, could lead most hoops handicappers to backing the Hornets.

Make no mistake, Blake Griffin’s incredible performance during the NBA Slam Dunk contest, and during the NBA All-Star Game where he scored 8 points and grabbed 5 boards in less than 14 minutes and 40 seconds, is going to lead a lot of gamblers to backing the Clippers in their game on Wednesday. Not me. Keep reading to find out why I like the Hornets.

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Los Angeles Clippers (21-35) at New Orleans Hornets (33-25)

Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana

When: Feb. 23rd, 2010 at 9:35 pm EST

TV: ESPN

Likely NBA Betting Lines

Los Angeles Clippers +2 ½ -110 O 192 ½ -110

New Orleans Hornets -2 ½ -110 U 192 ½ -110

Check out some trends for this game.

• The Los Angeles Clippers are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning straight up record.

• The Los Angeles Clippers are 0 and 7 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New Orleans.

• The New Orleans Hornets are 0 and 6 ATS in their last 6 games versus a team with a losing straight up record.

• The New Orleans Hornets are 5 and 0 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 days of rest.

The Clippers will, no doubt, get a ton of love in the online NBA sports betting book because of the presence of Mr. Awesome, Blake Griffin, but there are few things going on with New Orleans that basketball handicappers shouldn’t be blind to.

Not only are the Clippers 1 and 4 against the spread in their last 5 games versus a team with a winning record on the moneyline, but they also might be facing a Hornets team with both Tevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor healthy. Ariza is probable to play on Wednesday while Okafor is possible. My feeling is that New Orleans is going to go ahead and suit Emeka up meaning that the Hornets will have a player on their squad that could possibly keep Blake from taking over the game.

Not only that, but Ariza is fully capable of shutting down the Clippers “other” scorer (whomever that is!) meaning that New Orleans will have an advantage on the floor in terms of personnel on Wednesday night. Another reason to love the Hornets has to do with simple math.

Because N.O. has gone 2 and 8 straight up and 1 and 9 against the NBA odds betting spread in their last 10 games, there’s no possible way that the odds makers are going to set a line where the Hornets are more than a -2 ½ point favorite. New Orleans might even be a +1 dog on February 23rd.

The Los Angeles Clippers have to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. KD and Russell Westbrook figure to get the Clipps running in that game. I see New Orleans coming out and, if not shutting Blake down, then at least keeping Mr. Blake under control.

I’m going to back the home team in this matchup on Wednesday night. I’m taking New Orleans to cover the spread versus the Los Angeles Griffindores on February 23rd.

NBA Basketball Betting Pick: New Orleans Hornets ATS

Log onto the sports betting book and bet on Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers versus Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets on February 23rd, click here!