2023 NBA Playoffs: Suns vs. Clippers Betting Analysis & Prediction

The Phoenix Suns game tonight is a big one. After the Los Angeles Clippers stole home-court advantage in Game 1, the Suns can retain it with a road win. The next meeting on the NBA schedule is Saturday for Game 4 before an additional off day ahead of Tuesday’s Game 5.

Anything beyond that to extend the LA Clippers schedule will require each team to win a game.

Here is a breakdown of each team, recent history, the odds, and a Suns vs Clippers prediction.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers

Location of the game: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA.

Date and Time: Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:30 PM ET.

How to Watch: ESPN

The Suns and Clippers have 15 NBA matchups in the playoffs. The Suns win nine games and the Clippers six. That tune has not changed in the regular season when the Suns won 137 games, and the Clippers won 98.

But this season, the Suns won the first two games before the calendar turned to 2023, and the Clippers won three straight, including Game 1 in Phoenix, 115-110. Phoenix bounced back with a 123-109 win to even the series. The two playoff games are the only ones involving Kevin Durant since the Suns acquired him.

The Suns finished 45-37 in the NBA standings, one game ahead of the Clippers to secure home-court advantage for the series. That is critical should the series go to a Game 7.

Durant only played in eight games with the Suns, but he averaged 26.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while making 53.7% of 3-pointers, NBA player stats show. He is a great addition for new Suns owner Matt Ishbia who hopes to win a championship with Devin Booker and Chris Paul, too.

The Suns were 17th in scoring 113.6 points per game and were 23rd in making 46.7% of field goal attempts, and seventh with 37.4% of 3-point shots. Defensively, they allowed 111.6 points per game and teams to shoot 46.6% from the floor, which both ranked sixth. They also held teams to 35.7% on 3-pointers, which was 11th.

Phoenix was 44-39-1 against the spread and 43-39-2 on over/unders. They were 17-24 away from home, too, which is noteworthy for a Suns vs Clippers prediction.

Kawhi Leonard has been very good for the Clippers when he has suited up. He played in 52 games and averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, NBA stats show. The Clippers need him to step up.

They were 18th in scoring 113.6 points per game but were 13th in making 47.7% of field goal attempts and third in making 38.1% of 3-pointers, NBA team stats show. The Clippers were 12th in holding teams to 113.1 points per game but were 16th in allowing them to convert 47.4% of field goal attempts and 19th in allowing 36.5% on 3-pointers.

Los Angeles was 41-43 against the spread, 41-42-1 on over/unders, and 23-18 at home.

Cameron Payne is questionable for Phoenix with a back injury, while Paul George remains out for the Clippers with a knee injury.

The Suns are favored at -3 and -140 on the moneyline. The Clippers are +120 on the moneyline, and the over/under is 226.5.

• Our Suns vs Clippers prediction is Suns -3.

The Suns are 5-1 against the spread in the last six meetings in Los Angeles and 5-2 in the last seven, regardless of location. The over is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings, but the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in L.A.

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