Clippers vs. Suns same-game parlay picks, Game 2: Bet on Kawhi to produce in Phoenix victory

The Los Angeles Clippers will look to steal another one on the road when they meet the Phoenix Suns for Game 2 on Tuesday. 

The pregame narrative: Kawhi Leonard was in vintage form in the series opener and we’re confident he’ll deliver again for a Clippers team missing star sidekick Paul George. But this is a game Phoenix should win, so we’re backing the Suns on an alternative spread to even the series. 

NBA odds as of 2:29 p.m. on 04/18/2023.

Clippers vs. Suns same-game parlay picks

Parlay: Leonard over 37.5 PRA + Suns -3.5 + Eric Gordon over 1.5 threes (+280)

Leonard over 37.5 PRA (-210): Kawhi dropped 38 on 24 shots in Game 1 and will have to continue carrying a large load offensively if Los Angeles has any chance of taking this series. 

The alternative PRA line is favoured over a points prop here in the event the Suns’ No. 7-ranked defence makes the necessary adjustments to slow the superstar down.

While Leonard might take a hit in points, we’re banking on him picking some of it back up by distributing and remaining a strong presence on the boards.

Kawhi averaged 25.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 14 games without George this season. While that only gets us close to this line, Leonard has taken it up a notch over the last five contests George has sat for. 

The two-time champion has averaged 31.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists, good for a PRA average of 44.2. 

Leonard is simply a playoff performer, averaging 27.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists over his last 61 postseason games going back to 2017.

Other parlay legs

Suns -3.5 (-245): Before the Game 1 upset, the Suns had previously won all eight games with Durant in the lineup. They won half by double digits and covered this number in all of them. 

Durant’s presence and George’s absence is the reason why Phoenix was a hefty -500 favourite to win this series and is -345 to take Game 2. Even down 1-0, the juice on the Suns to take the series is considerable at -186. 

Phoenix had a positive scoring margin in the first quarter this season, ranking 11th in the NBA, but found itself in a 12-point hole after the opening period in Game 1.

From there, despite losing the fourth, the Suns outscored the Clippers by seven points. 

Eric Gordon over 1.5 threes (-225): If Kawhi is forced to distribute more in Game 2, we’re banking on Gordon being one of the beneficiaries.

The veteran guard played 33 minutes in Game 1, burying 3-of-7 shots from long range. He started the final eight games of the regular season and averaged 2.5 made 3-pointers per contest.

Gordon, who has never been shy to dial it up from long range, shoots with efficiency and has cleared this number in 15 of his last 18 games.