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2025-26 Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/2/2025

Los Angeles Clippers predictions Kawhi Leonard

The Los Angeles Clippers have had an eventful offseason both on and off the court, but it is time for them to lock into the new campaign. There is no shortage of talent in Los Angeles, but the Clippers have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs in three straight seasons. Another flurry of offseason moves has the front office believing that this could be the year they finally get over the hump. Have the Clippers finally found the right balance on the court, or will it be another wasted season for their NBA veterans in Los Angeles?

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Los Angeles Clippers Offseason Recap

First things first, the offseason headlines in Los Angeles were dominated by owner Steve Ballmer’s maneuvers to circumvent the salary cap. The league has an ongoing investigation and has set a lofty precedent in the past. Minnesota was caught using a similar strategy to get around the salary cap in 2000, and was stripped of five first-round picks while the owner and general manager were suspended. This isn’t going to be sorted out anytime soon, but the investigation will linger over the heads of anyone involved with the Clippers organization. 

On the court, the Clippers had a very successful offseason. Their most impactful signing was securing Bradley Beal on a very reasonable 2-year, $11 million deal. Beal had a disastrous tenure with the Suns, but the Clippers will be hoping he can turn back the clock and play as he did with the Washington Wizards. His efficiency has never been a question, and his ability to both score and assist on the offensive end is hard to replicate. He won’t be the primary ball handler with James Harden on the roster, but Beal can certainly handle the ball with confidence when he needs to. 

The Clippers also secured the services of Chris Paul and Brook Lopez in free agency. Chris Paul is a future Hall of Famer looking for one last chance at an NBA championship and will be instrumental for the Clippers' bench unit. Paul is the perfect leader for the Clippers' reserves, and he will play impactful minutes while Harden and Leonard rest. Brook Lopez is 37 years old but has shown no signs of slowing down. His ability to block shots in the paint and then drift behind the arc on offense is a rare combination to find. His 37.3% clip from deep tied a career best last season, while he shot 51% from the floor in 80 contests. 

Finally, the Clippers brought in John Collins from Atlanta while sending Norman Powell to the Heat in a three-team deal. Powell’s shooting will be missed in Los Angeles, but it was a good time for the Clippers to sell high and get younger after Powell’s career year last season. Collins is a versatile player who can play multiple positions, and his work rate has never been questioned. He can rebound, pass, and score effectively, and is perfect for the pick-and-roll game with Harden. Los Angeles also let Patty Mills and Ben Simmons walk in free agency, but neither made much of an impact last season. 

Los Angeles Clippers Season Expectations

The Clippers have an incredibly talented roster, and competing for an NBA championship is the expectation. Kawhi Leonard already has two Finals MVPs with two different teams, and would love nothing more than to cap off his illustrious career with a third. He is still an elite defender who can guard multiple positions, and the emergence of his three-point shot late in his career has extended his time at the top. Harden led the team in PPG (22.8) and assists (8.7) last season, while tacking on nearly 6 rebounds per game. He isn’t getting any younger, but Harden is still an excellent offensive option, and the Clippers have the players around him needed to offset his defensive shortcomings. Overall, this is a balanced Clippers team that has the top-end talent, experience, and depth needed to make a deep playoff run. A bench unit featuring Paul, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Lopez should alleviate the minutes for the Clippers' aging stars. If Los Angeles is healthy come April, they will be a real threat in the West. 

Los Angeles Clippers Schedule Breakdown

The Clippers have a very soft schedule to start out and could use some early success to springboard them into the playoffs. Their first six opponents are the Jazz, Suns, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Pelicans, and Heat, with four of those games coming at home. A 5-1 or better record would be a refreshing blast of optimism for a franchise that desperately needs it. The Clippers' longest road trip comes in November, with a seven-game trip that concludes with a ‘road’ game against the Lakers. Only one road game between December 18th and January 6th will allow the Clippers to spend the holidays at home. They then have 13 road games in their next 19, which will likely determine where this team is heading in the final months of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers Odds

The Clippers have a win total of 47.5 this season, and are expected to make the playoffs with -400 odds to do so. A very competitive Western Conference ensures there won’t be many easy victories for Los Angeles, but they have all the talent they need to prevail. In the NBA Cup, the Clippers have +220 odds to win Group B with the Lakers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Pelicans alongside them. Los Angeles has the 15th shortest odds to win the NBA Cup at +2700. 

In the postseason, the Clippers' primary target will be winning a playoff series for the first time in four years. Once they get that out of the way, this is a team poised for a potentially deep playoff run. They have the 6th best odds to win the West at +1100 and +1900 odds to win the NBA Finals. 

2025-26 Los Angeles Clippers Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Clippers have fallen short many times before, and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stay away from tailing them this year. However, if we take emotions out of the equation, tailing the Clippers this year is the way to go. Despite dealing with a revolving door of injuries, the Clippers finished with 51 and 50 wins in the last two seasons. Their win total has dipped despite getting better in the offseason, and a potential Kawhi Leonard suspension could be baked into that line. However, suspending Leonard is an unlikely outcome, and we will happily take Over 47.5 wins this year at -110. Even better, we can secure +130 odds on the Clippers to win 50+ games this season. The bigger payout is the way to go for a season-long bet, as less of your bankroll is tied up for 7+ months. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Clippers won 55+ games at +370, but I have them finishing 53-29 this season and will stick with 50+ at +130. 

In the playoffs, if the Clippers can win their first-round series, I expect them to use that momentum all the way to the NBA Finals. There is too much talent in Los Angeles for the Clippers to fail, and they have a whole season to work out the chemistry among their trio of Hall of Famers. The +1900 odds on the Clippers to win the championship are too juicy to pass up, and I will happily tail them at this price. For transparency, I expected the Clippers to take the next step in each of the last two offseasons. This year, their roster is even more talented, well-rounded, and ready for a deep playoff run. 

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers Over 47.5 Wins -110

Top Pick: Los Angeles Clippers 50+ Wins +130

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers to win the NBA Finals +1900

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