The LA Clippers are coming off consecutive wins over the LA Lakers and Houston Rockets in dominating fashion. Even with just eight wins on the season they find themselves as road favorites tonight over the Portland Trailblazers. Portland is starting to look like the young team of last season, and trailed virtually the entire game their last time out against Orlando. Lay the points here with the Clippers.

We've been reluctant to back the Clippers but signs of a turnaround in the past week, as back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Rockets might be their best efforts of the season. Though LA still has trouble staying completely healthy (Bradley Bowl down for the count since November, and Ivica Zubac out with an ankle sprain), at least the most-important Clips are still firing. Including Kawhi Leonard, tapping his richest vein of form this season in the past week, following up 32 points vs the Lakers with a season-high 41 vs. the Rockets. James Harden (29 vs. Houston) also seems to be rolling. Meanwhile the streaky Blazers might be regressing with back-to-back losses, and depth continues to be impacted by various nagging injuries. Play Clippers

FanDuel. I’m of the belief that the floor should open up more for John Collins without Ivica Zubac in the middle. Brook Lopez, Zubac’s replacement, is more of a pick and pop threat, as opposed to Zubac who rolls towards the basket. Collins should benefit as a cutter who thrives moreso in the paint. Without Zubac on the floor this season, Collins averages 17.2 points per 30 minutes, a +3.5 point differential. In the Clippers first game without Big Zu, Collins saw eight paint plus elbow touches - double his usual. Against the Trailblazers, who allow the 10th most points in the paint, I have Collins around 14-15 points. I’d bet this to over 13.5 points for 0.75u.