Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay picks, Game 3: Bet on Phoenix to win and Torrey Craig to stay hot
Editor's note: This story was published before Kawhi Leonard (knee) was ruled out for Game 3. Phoenix's moneyline odds moved from -165 to -250 as a result.
This entertaining first-round series heads to Los Angeles on Thursday night with the Clippers and Phoenix Suns tied at 1-1.
The pregame narrative: Phoenix responded with a 14-point win in Game 2 after getting upset in the series opener. The stars showed up and we expect Kawhi Leonard to do so again at home after a pair of 30-plus point games to open the series.
We’re shooting for big plus-money odds by including Phoenix to win straight up in our Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay picks on April 20.
NBA odds as of 2:29 p.m. on 04/20/2023.
Suns vs. Clippers same-game parlay picks
Parlay: Leonard over 38.5 PRA + Suns ML + Torrey Craig over 8.5 points (+350)
Kahwi over 38.5 PRA (-220): Phoenix can’t stop Leonard. It’s that simple.
The Clippers star scored 38 in Game 1 and followed it up with 31, shooting over 50% from the field in both contests. He’s adding 6.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game and it’s his all-around effort that has us targeting him — again — on his PRA prop.
We went to this in Game 2 (taking the over on 37.5) as part of a successful +280 play and have no issues running it back.
Kawhi has shown he can flirt with this number on points alone. If the Suns figure out a way to slow him, he has proven he can be a facilitator, which was our logic for Game 2 (he finished with seven assists).
The Clippers need Kawhi to carry them to have a shot, so the minutes and usage should remain sky-high. Leonard is averaging 40.5 minutes per game, seven more than his 33.6 in the regular season.
On top of all that, Kawhi has excelled while Paul George has been sidelined. His last six games without the fellow all-star look like this:
That’s good for a PRA average of 44.5.
Other parlay legs
Suns to win (-165): As great as Kawhi is, he needs help. But it’s tough to envision him getting the same support again from Russell Westbrook, who was Leonard’s main sidekick in Game 2.
Westbrook shot 9-of-16 from the field for 28 points and that was still a game the Clippers lost by double digits. While Westbrook was an offensive dud in Game 1, the Suns’ home loss feels like a bit of a fluke, as well as Los Angeles did play.
That was the only time the Suns have lost with Kevin Durant in the lineup — they are 9-1 — and we don’t expect it to happen again tonight.
Torrey Craig over 8.5 points (-130): Craig has provided a Suns team that’s heavy on stars but short on depth with some much-needed support.
Craig scored 22 points in Game 1 and then added 17 in Game 2. It was a continuation of his strong end to the year. Craig was limited to six minutes in the last game of the regular season but averaged 14.6 in the three contests before that.
There is space and opportunity for Craig and other members of the Suns as a result of the attention that Durant and Devin Booker demand. Craig is 7-of-12 from beyond the arc this series, shooting 71.4% from the field.
