Weekly Underdog Picks: Clippers will give 76ers a tough test

Dustin Johnson didn’t pull through despite the suggestion to put a live bet on him at +2000 to win the Masters last week, however, on the hard court, the ‘dogs were barking. 

The Wizards covered as 4.5-point underdogs, and the New York Knicks not only covered, but won straight-up after persevering in overtime against Memphis. 

Will that trend continue tonight? Here are three underdogs we like for tonight’s NBA and NHL action.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The Los Angeles Clippers have won seven in a row and 13 of their last 15 games, but they still find themselves as underdogs against the Philadelphia 76ers in a clash of conference titans on Friday. 

The Clippers were three-point underdogs as of Friday afternoon. While they’ve been on a hot streak, the Clippers’ last three wins came against Houston, Detroit, and Indiana earlier this week. 

That’s not exactly a powerhouse lineup. The 76ers provide a much stiffer test, and there are questions around the Clippers' lineup. Marcus Morris Sr. and Paul George could reportedly be inserted back into the Clippers lineup. The bigger concern will be the status of Kawhi Leonard, who has been nursing a sore foot. 

According to reports, Leonard is questionable to return tonight. If he does, how will his ailment impact his minutes? The 76ers sit atop the Eastern Conference standings and the lineup situation for Los Angeles will go a long way to determining if the Clippers can get the best of Philadelphia tonight. 

If the Clippers have a full complement of players, this could come down to a final possession.

Pick: Clippers (+3)

New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks

What a week it’s been for the New York Knicks. A thrilling 133-129 comeback overtime win as underdogs against Memphis last week has kickstarted a four-game winning streak for the Knicks, who have since knocked off the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans. 

The Knicks are one of the best teams against the spread this season, and particularly on the road. According to Team Rankings, they are 18-11 ATS on the road this season. They face the Dallas Mavericks, who are coming off a one-point victory over Memphis earlier this week that culminated with a buzzer beater three-pointer from Luka Doncic.

Dallas is a six-point favorite, although the Mavs are just 10-15 ATS on their home court. The Knicks are hot, and they are among the better defensive clubs in the NBA. There have been some moments of inconsistency of late for Mavericks, and the Knicks should be able to keep this one close enough to cover as underdogs. 

Pick: Knicks (+6)

Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens

There has been some movement on the moneyline toward the Calgary Flames since this morning, as they prepare for their road game with the Montreal Canadiens. 

Earlier this morning, the Flames had moneyline odds of +120 at TwinSpires Sports, however, that moved toward +115 by the afternoon. 

This is a big game in the North Division playoff race, with the Flames trailing Montreal by three points, while the Habs have three games in hand. The Flames have been up and down all season, leading to a mid-season coaching change that has had some mixed results.

But they’re on a hot streak right now, with wins in three consecutive games, and their best offensive players have been better of late. Meanwhile, the Habs have been hit-or-miss over their last 10 games. 

The Canadiens are dealing with injuries to Carey Price and Brendan Gallagher, and their absences could provide the Flames with another opportunity to score a critical win as road underdogs tonight. 

Pick: Flames moneyline (+115)