NBA Playoffs Odds: L.A. Clippers lose Livingston
The Los Angeles Clippers took a hit Monday night as the mad scramble continues for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Point guard Shaun Livingston could be out for the season with a dislocated left kneecap suffered during a 100-93 home defeat of Charlotte. He collapsed in pain after coming down hard on his left foot after a missed driving layup.
Livingston’s knee cap was popped back into place. The kneecap will be evaluated further 
Tuesday.
“When he landed, I thought it was his ankle,” Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy told the Associated Press. “But when he hit the floor, you could see his knee was dislocated and he was in tremendous pain.”
Livingston, who has been hampered by injuries ever since the Clippers snagged him with the fourth overall pick of the 2004 draft, had seemingly settled in this season. He’s averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 assists a game and was coming off a career-high 14-assist performance Saturday night against Golden State.
The Clippers (27-29) are tied with New Orleans (27-29) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Denver (27-28), Minnesota (26-30), Golden State (26-31), Sacramento (24-32), Portland (24-34) and Seattle (22-34) are all battling to reach the postseason.
Three of those teams play Tuesday night. Bodog.com lists the Hornets as 5.5-point underdogs in Cleveland, the Timberwolves as a 4.5-point home underdogs against Dallas, and the Warriors as 6-point underdogs at Milwaukee.
NBA Betting Tips: The Bulls still haven’t proven stingy enough on that end of the court. Until they do, don’t wager big bucks on an NBA crown.
