Two home sides in the NBA with depth or star power on their side, and two visitors whose recent form is shaky. Both games look like they will be decided by turnovers and the bench rather than by pure shooting.
Golden State against the Clippers: the Clippers have lost four straight by wide margins, with their wing scoring and shooting gone because Beal, Ingram and Strus are out, and they keep turning the ball over, 24 to 26 times in three of their last four. Golden State has beaten Denver, Minnesota and the Lakers without Curry, Butler or Porzingis, living on steals, ball movement and a productive bench. Draymond Green's absence is new and the team's three-point shooting is running hot, so this is a lean and not a lock, but the Clippers' hole is longer and still open. That's why I'm siding with Golden State at home.
Lakers against Toronto: Doncic carries the Lakers offence at home with Reaves as the second creator, while Toronto is without Leonard and Bittle and has swung between blowout wins and blowout losses. The Lakers' weak spot is the fourth quarter and turnovers, as the collapse in Golden State showed, but that night had a clear one-game cause and four days earlier they beat the Clippers by 16. Expect a Lakers lead that Toronto trims late. I'm siding with the Lakers at home.
