Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoenix Suns Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/16/2023

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Sunday, April 16, 2023

Venue:  Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

Where to Watch:  TNT

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Clippers +7.5, Suns -7.5; Over/Under:  227 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Clippers +7, Suns -7; Over/Under:  227.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Clippers +7.5, Suns -7.5; Over/Under:  227.5 points

Los Angeles Clippers:  44-38 (3rd place, Pacific Division)

Phoenix Suns:  45-37 (2nd place, Pacific Division)

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Los Angeles Clippers:  6-4 last 10

Phoenix Suns:  7-3 last 10

The Clippers finished the regular season with a 44-38 record overall and they were 21-20 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Phoenix Suns in their last game. Norman Powell led the team in points in that game with 29 while Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook each were next on the team with 25 points. Russell Westbrook led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Kawhi Leonard led the team in rebounds with 15. They were 49% from the field, 21.7% from 3-point range, and 66.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 113.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 113.1 PPG against them. The Clippers have an ATS record of 40-42 this season and their O/U record is 40-42.

The Suns finished the regular season with a 45-37 record overall and they were 28-13 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers in their last game. Saben Lee led the team in points in that game with 25 while Darius Bazley was next on the team with 16 points. Saben Lee led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Darius Bazley led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 42.4% from the field, 37.8% from 3-point range, and 72.7% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 113.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 111.6 PPG against them. The Suns have an ATS record of 42-38-2 this season and their O/U record is 42-38-2.

The current betting odds have the Suns listed as a 7.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 1 of a 7-game series between the 4th seeded Suns and the 5th seeded Clippers for the 1st round of the playoffs in the NBA Western Conference. The Suns finished the regular season 1 game higher in the standings with their 45-37 overall record while the Clippers were 44-38 overall. The Clippers were a decent road team this year with their 21-20 road record but the Suns had a very strong home advantage all year with their 28-13 home record. The Suns have lost 2 games in a row now while the Clippers have some momentum with 3 wins in a row, but the Suns have also been resting their starters in these last few games while the Clippers have been resting some of their players too but will still be without one of their stars, Paul George. The Suns have been a really good team with Kevin Durant in their starting lineup as his acquisition just strengthened an already strong team, but the Suns are also very good in these 1st games of the playoffs too as they are 6-0 ATS in the 1st game of a playoff series over the last 3 years. The Suns have home advantage here and will be healthier for this 1st game with such a good history too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Suns to cover the spread in this game. 

Clippers Suns Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Sunday, April 16, 2023 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Suns 127 Clippers 113.

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Los Angeles Clippers: 4-11 ATS after a division game. 16-24 ATS after playing a road game. 26-14 OVER in road games. 13-6 OVER as a road underdog.

Phoenix Suns: 17-9 ATS in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 21-12 ATS off a home loss. 27-18 OVER when the total is 220 to 229.5. 11-4 OVER vs. division opponents.

Los Angeles Clippers:  M. Morris Sr. (PF) Ques Sun - Back. P. George (SF) Mid April - Knee.

Phoenix Suns:  T. Warren (SF) Ques Sun - Illness. K. Durant (SF) Ques Sun - Ankle. C. Payne (PG) Ques Sun - Back. B. Biyombo (C) Ques Sun - Knee.

“I don't know — I ain't talking about this game. It's over, we're in the playoffs, I want to focus on that. We didn't play our best game today, we know that, but we'll put it behind us and focus on the bigger picture." - Tyronn Lue after his team’s win against the Suns in their game on Sunday.

“From a force and grit standpoint, we played to the Suns’ standards.” - Monty Williams after his team’s loss against the Clippers in their game on Sunday.

PG Russell Westbrook

SG Eric Gordon

SF Kawhi Leonard

PF Nicolas Batum

C Ivica Zubac

PG Chris Paul

SG Devin Booker

SF Josh Okogie

PF Kevin Durant

C Deandre Ayton

PPG: P. George (23.8)

APG: R. Westbrook (7.5)

Reb/G: I. Zubac (9.9)

PPG: K. Durant (29.1)

APG: C. Paul (8.9)

Reb/G: D. Ayton (10)

Coaches:

Los Angeles Clippers: Tyronn Lue (4th season)

Phoenix Suns: Monty Williams (4th season)