The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to be without All-Star Kawhi Leonard again Tuesday night in Game 5 of their Western Conference playoff series at the Phoenix Suns, who are double-digit favorites on the NBA odds and poised to end the series up 3-1.
Clippers vs. Suns, Game 5 | 2023 NBA Playoff Expert Analysis
How to Bet Clippers at Suns NBA Odds & TV Info
When: Tuesday, 10 PM ET
Where: Footprint Center
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Suns -12 (total 224.5)
Why Bet on LA Clippers?
The Clippers won Game 1 of the series behind an outstanding effort from Kawhi Leonard, but they haven’t won since as Leonard hasn’t played since Game 2 due to a knee problem and will sit again tonight with LA’s season likely to finish. It remains unclear exactly when Leonard aggravated his knee, as he never went to the locker room and played over 80 combined minutes in Games 1 and 2.
He led the Clippers to a Game 1 upset in Phoenix while posting 38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He shined again in a Game 2 loss, with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. This new injury is unrelated to the torn ACL that cost Leonard all of last season, though they did both happen in his right knee. Heading into this series, the Clippers were already without Paul George, who sprained his knee during a March 21 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. PG13 remains out.
“He’s definitely hurt,” Lue said of Leonard. “Like this is not load management where he’s taking time off. He’s shown in his past that he’s played through injuries in the playoffs. If it’s something that he can’t play through, then it has to be pretty serious. We’re not talking about he’s sitting out because of load management or he’s tired or nothing like that. It’s an actual thing. What the outside is saying, who cares.”
Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook will again be asked to lead the way offensively in Game 5. Powell blew up for 42 points in Game 3 but struggled in Saturday’s 112-100 loss with 14 points on 4-for-15 shooting. Westbrook had 37 points, six rebounds and four assists and is averaging 31.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds over the past three.
Mason Plumlee provided eight points, six rebounds and three assists in Game 4. Despite playing only 19 minutes compared to 24 minutes for starting center Ivica Zubac, Plumlee had a bigger impact on the game.
The Clippers have scored over 100 points in 39 of their last 42 contests. Since January 6, the Clippers are fifth in the NBA in offensive rating (118.2) and tied for second in 3P% (39.2).
Bet Clippers to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game
Why Bet on Phoenix?
Devin Booker lit up the Clippers for 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists with three steals in Game 4 and is averaging 34.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.8 steals, 1.3 blocks in the series. Booker recorded his 16th career 30+ point game in the playoffs, tying Charles Barkley for most in franchise history. n Booker leads the NBA in scoring (34.8 PPG) in these playoffs while shooting a career-best 57.4 FG% and joined Michael Jordan (1992) and Charles Barkley (1994) as the only players in NBA history to record 105+ points on 60+ FG% through the first three games of a postseason.
Booker has joined Jordan (1992) as the only players in NBA history to average 34+ points, 5+ assists, 2+ steals and 1+ blocks on 65+ true shooting percentage in the first four games of a postseason. Booker has scored 30+ points in a career-long three consecutive playoff games, while the franchise record is 5 by Amar’e Stoudemire in the 2005 NBA Playoffs.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 31 points to go with 11 rebounds and six assists on Saturday. The absence of Kawhi Leonard has allowed KD to have some easier defensive matchups.
Chris Paul posted a full line on Saturday with 19 points, nine assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks. CP3 struggled in Game 3 and shot 5-for-18 from the floor. He bounced back well in this game with a full line and no turnovers. He also came up big late by scoring 12 in the fourth quarter alone. He also tied his career-high for blocks with three. The only other time he blocked three shots in either the regular season or playoffs was in 2019, when he was playing for the Thunder. Paul has at least one steal in 18 straight playoff games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Up 3-1, the Suns will look to have backup point guard Cameron Payne back for Game 5 as he’s missed Phoenix’s last five games counting the final game of the regular season with low back soreness. Payne is listed as probable. He hurt his back on a hard fall April 7 against the Lakers. If the Suns can make it four straight playoff wins Tuesday, they’ll close out a series at home for the first time in this three-year playoff run.
Bet Suns to Win Today
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Game Trends
- Clippers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Clippers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Suns are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games.
- Suns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Expert Prediction
Suns 120, Clippers 110
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