Free NBA Pick: Clippers vs. Suns NBA Odds
Looking for LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Clippers taking on the Suns on Sunday, April 16th, 2023 at the Footprint Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Clippers Suns matchup.
2023 NBA Handicapping – LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns
(1-0) LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns (0-1)
Date: Tuesday, April 18th
Time: 10:00 PM EST
Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Moneyline NBA Odds: Clippers +270 | Suns -320 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Suns Suns -7.5
Today’s NBA Betting Total: 225.5
- *Click Here* Check out our Live Betting Odds for this LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns game!
- *Click Here* Check out our Updated Sportsbook Bonuses for today!
- SCROLL DOWN FOR our Clippers Suns Free Pick!
Game 2 of the first-round series between the fifth-seed LA Clippers and fourth-seed Phoenix Suns tips off on Tuesday, April 18th. The Clippers won back home court advantage by winning Game 1 in Phoenix 115-110.
ATS
The Clippers are 41-42 overall against the spread this season. Also, they are 22-20 ATS as the away team. Additionally, the Suns are 42-39-2 against the spread this season. Also, they are 22-19-1 ATS as the home team.
Season Series
The teams split the regular season series with Phoenix taking the initial two contests 112-95 on October 23rd and 111-95 on December 15th while the Clippers won 116-107 on February 16th and 119-114 on April 9th.
Last season, the squads met four times and split the season series. The Suns hold the all-time record having bested the Clippers in 137 of their 235 matches.
LA Clippers
Coming off his second Finals MVP and championship, it’s said Kawhi Leonard entered 2019 free agency with a very short list of superstars he wanted to convince to join him in LA with Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler topping that list.
It’s also rumored Russell Westbrook contacted Leonard as he sought the opportunity to return home to LA. In a strange twist of fate, that call created a domino effect with Leonard instead calling Paul George who in turn asked Sam Presti to broker his trade to the Clippers.
In the four years since that trade Westbrook played for three teams including the Lakers where he became the scapegoat for all that ailed the team. So when he was traded at the deadline and negotiated a buy-out the Clippers (via PG’s encouragement) signed him.
Sunday night, that decision to add the enigmatic point guard reaped mega rewards. Not via his 3 of 19 shooting performance but his dogged defense and timely rebounds.
Stats
Presently, LA ranks 18th for scoring averaging 113.6 points per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.1% from the perimeter ranking 13th and third respectively.
Opponents average 113.1 points per game ranking 12th lowest overall while allowing opponents to shoot 47.4% from the field and 36.5% from the perimeter ranking 16th and 19th respectively.
Injury Report
To summarize the LA Clippers injury report… (note: the Clippers played Saturday so haven’t updated the injury report yet)
- Paul George SF (OUT indefinitely — knee)
- Marcus Morris Sr, PF (upgraded to probable—back spasms)
Phoenix Suns
Game 1 featured the best and worst of the Suns. Clearly, the positives were the starting unit who scored 100 of the 110 Suns points.
Durant (27 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists) and Chris Paul (11 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 points) flirted with triple-doubles. Booker scored 26 but his defensive contributions of four steals and three blocks turned heads.
On the negative side, CP3 will need to offer more scoring punch as will the Suns’ bench as 10 points isn’t going to cut it, especially against a Clippers reserve unit that features five players who’ve scored 20 or more on multiple occasions this season.
Stats
Phoenix averages 113.6 points per game ranking 17th while shooting 46.7% from the field and 37.4% from the perimeter ranking 23rd and seventh overall.
Defensively opponents score 111.6 points ranking sixth-best. Meanwhile, they limit foes to 46.6% from the field and 35.7% from the perimeter ranking sixth and 11th respectively.
Injury Report
To summarize the injury report…
- Cameron Payne PG (questionable — back)
NBA Bettors we want to hear from you. Comment below. Give us your LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA picks!
LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA Betting Trends:
- At this point, the Clippers are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games.
- Also, the Clippers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
- By comparison, the Suns are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games.
- In conclusion, the Suns are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games at home.
Free LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA Prediction:
It’s no secret every playoff team who starts a series on the road is looking for a split to gain back home-court advantage. The other common denominator is if that goal is accomplished in Game 1 the tendency is to be satisfied and whether consciously or not let go of the rope.
LA could definitely succumb to a similar fate, but I doubt they will given the personnel. We’re talking Westbrook who you know is chomping at the bit to go up 2-0 versus KD and CP3.
However, Kawhi is the reason I think this game will be much closer and it stems from something he said in the last title run. When the Raptors won Game 3 at Oracle, in the locker room after a teammate said ‘great, we did what we came for and got the split’.
In what I can only imagine was an E.F. Hutton moment (for those too young to know the reference) Kawhi uttered ‘expletive that! We’re winning both!’
All that to say I’d expect Durant to do whatever is necessary to even the series. Game 1 he took only 15 shots but he (and Paul) were also the primary ball distributors.
Even if Payne returns that dynamic isn’t likely to change much but he’ll probably be more aggressive early to build a cushion. I’ll take the points and while I expect a helpful whistle for the home side I also won’t be shocked if the Clippers return home up 2-0.
4* Free LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns NBA Betting Pick: Clippers +7.5
Lastly, if you’re looking for more NBA picks like this LA Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns matchup we’ll be providing 4* free NBA predictions on the blog during the entire NBA season, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NBA predictions!
Register here for a FREE NBA Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers! Check out our Linktr.ee!