Rogers' TNT Thurs Night DYNO-MITE >> 7-3 This Week! 10-5-1 NBA Run!
(NBA) Golden State vs. LA Clippers,
Point Spread: -8.00 | -105.00 Golden State (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 42-7 Golden State Warriors own the league's best record, as well as the best road mark (20-4) of any team, as well. They will visit Staples Center tonight to take on the 31-18 LA Clippers, a team playing without PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7). However, PF Blake Griffin (21.1-8.7-4.7) has returned to play in the team's three last games, adding 29 & 8 in Wednesday's win in Phoenix (LA had lost the first two games of Blake's return).

Golden State: The Warriors rolled to a 126-111 win over the Charlotte Hornets last night, as Steph Curry (25.3-4.3-6.2) scored 39 points, hitting 11 of 15 from three-point range, and Klay Thompson (21.3) added 29. K.D. (26.1-8.4-4.8) added a modest 18 points (plus eight rebounds and eight assist), while Green (10.4-8.4-7.40 had a typical night (8-10-5). The Warriors own the league's best FG percentage (50.1%) plus defend better than anyone, holding opponents to a league-low 43.4% (quite a daily double).

LA Clippers:Last night's win in Phoenix capped a 2-3 five-game road swing in which the Clippers went 2-3. LA continues to play without Paul, who has missed six games since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb on Jan. 18 (team is 2-4). Paul is not expected to return for another four to six weeks. It was good news that Griffin tied his season-high with 29 points, especially since center DeAndre Jordan (12.3 & 13.8) was ejected in the third-quarter for a flagrant-2 foul. "This is the best Blake we've seen (since his return) by far,"head coach Doc Rivers said. "He played in gears. He knew when to go, and he knew when not to go." Said Griffin, "I was proud how we stuck with it. With DJ going out and (Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe) having a fantastic game, I was proud of the way we stayed with it and dug it out at the end."

The pick: Here's the bottom line. The Clippers haven't defeated the Warriors since recording a 100-86 decision back on Christmas Day in 2014. Since then, it's been nothing but misery for them, as the Warriors own eight straight wins over the Clippers, including the past four meetings at Staples. Golden State has an average margin of victory of more than 13 points in the past eight contests against the Clippers, averaging 117.5 PPG and shooting 49.9 percent during that stretch. Golden State rolled to a 144-98 romp at Oracle Arena in the teams' most recent meeting, this past Saturday. The Warriors shot 62 percent from the floor and made 17 three-pointers, with Curry scoring 43 points (in three quarters!). It was the most points allowed by the Clippers this season. The Warriors have won 11 of their last 12 contests overall and they are 8-1 against division opponents this season. Make Golden State an 8* play.