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Clippers vs Suns Pick – NBA Predictions & Odds 4/20/23

Phoenix Suns (46-38) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (45-39)
April 20, 2023 10:30 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Clippers +2.5; Over/Under: +228
(Get latest betting odds)

The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Phoenix Suns at the Crypto.com Arena in a pivotal Game 3 on Thursday night.

The Phoenix Suns will be feeling much better after they were able to square up the series with a 123-109 win over the Clippers in Game 2 on Tuesday. Devin Booker led the way with 38 points and nine assists on 14 of 22 shooting, Kevin Durant added 25 points with six rebounds and five assists, Torrey Craig added 17 points while Chris Paul chipped in with 16 points and eight assists. As a team, the Suns shot a healthy 58 percent from the field and 10 of 24 from the 3-point line as they struggled to get going and fell behind by 13 points in the second quarter, before they caught fire and just ran away with it in the second half. All five starters finished in double figures in scoring as the bench combined for just 13 points.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers will be kicking themselves as they missed on a big chance to take a 2-0 series lead going back to LA. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Russell Westbrook tallied 28 points with five assists on nine of 16 shooting while Eric Gordon chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Clippers shot 43 percent from the field and 11 of 30 from the 3-point line as they jumped all over the Suns at the start and looked set to pull off another upset after going up by 13 points, but they took their foot off the gas for a second and it was all the Suns needed to get hot and blow them away. The Clippers didn’t get the production off the bench like they did in the series opener, and they needed more from players like Nicolas Batum who finished scoreless in 19 minutes of action.

Looking at the betting trends, the Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on one day’s rest. The Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record, 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a loss and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall.

Head to head, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Los Angeles, the Suns are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings overall and the Suns are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Los Angeles.

The Suns are keeping an eye on Cameron Payne who is questionable for this one, while the Clippers are still missing Paul George. The Suns needed to get better production from their stars in Game 2 and they definitely got it with Booker and Durant igniting the team. The Clippers will be disappointed that they didn’t win both games, but they were able to get the split which is all they need to steal home-court advantage. The Clippers’ role players will surely step up at home, so it’s tempting to take the Clippers with the points, but the Suns are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Los Angeles, so I’ll stick with the Suns to take the series lead here.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Phoenix -2.5

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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