Clippers vs. Suns Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

June 22, 2021

by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Western Conference Finals will resume on Tuesday night with the Clippers and Suns set to square off for Game 2 in The Valley at nine o’clock Eastern time on ESPN.

Clippers vs. Suns Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Playoffs
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: Phoenix Suns Arena
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Time: 9:05 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Clippers vs. Suns

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Suns -5.5
Money-Line: Phoenix -220, Los Angeles +190
Total: 224

After narrowly escaping with a victory in Sunday’s series opener, Phoenix heads into Game 2 as a six-point favorite over the visiting Clippers – which is a one-and-a-half-point climb up the ladder from the line set in Game 1 (PHX -4.5).

The total for Tuesday’s event has risen to OU 224 – which ties the highest mark set for a playoff matchup containing either of these teams this year (U 224 vs UTA, U 224 vs DEN).

The Clippers look to even things up with the Suns at 1-1 on Tuesday night in Phoenix. (AP)

Clippers vs. Suns Current Form

After admirably knocking off the defending champs in six games to open the postseason, the Suns brought that same imposing energy into their second-round matchup against the Nuggets – throttling Denver by an average of 15.5 points per victory across the brief four-game sweep.

L.A.’s representation in the Western Conference Finals, on the other hand, is rather surprising, considering the Clippers have trailed two-games-to-none in both of their postseason matchups so far – in addition to losing Kawhi Leonard (knee) down the stretch of a tight series against Utah.

The bumps and bruises from the Clippers’ previous 13 playoff games finally caught up to them in their series opener against Phoenix, as Paul George managed to keep L.A. competitive for most of the event by scoring 33 points on 48% from the field across the first three quarters – resulting in Game 1 going to the fourth tied at 93 apiece.

George completely ran out of gas in the fourth though – as the seven-time All-Star posted a goose egg from the field in the final stanza (1 point, 0-5 FG), which seemingly paved the way for Phoenix to create a decent amount of separation down the stretch and escape with a narrow cover.

Clippers vs. Suns Head-to-Head

Jun. 20, 2021 - Suns 120 vs. Clippers 114, Phoenix -4, Over 219.5
Apr. 28, 2021 - Suns 109 vs. Clippers 101, Phoenix -4.5, Under 220
Apr. 8, 2021 - Clippers 113 vs. Suns 103, L.A. -6, Under 220.5
Jan. 3, 2021 - Clippers 112 at Suns 107, L.A. -3.5, Over 215.5

The Clippers picked up wins in two of three matchups against Phoenix during the regular season – with all three of those events containing less than 220 points scored in them (215 PPG).

Ironically, L.A.’s two regular-season victories over Phoenix were all about George, considering P.G. racked up an average of 36 points on 63% shooting in those events – compared to Kawhi’s average of 21 points on 34% across them.

Leonard didn’t participate in their final regular-season matchup though, and the Suns finally moved the needle back the other way – as Phoenix beat L.A. by eight at home behind a 49-point team-up effort from Devin Booker and Chris Paul to close these teams’ regular-season set.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Los Angeles Clippers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 55-31 SU, 47-38-1 ATS, 43-41-2 OU
Road: 25-18 SU, 22-20-1 ATS, 22-21 OU

Before Sunday’s opener, I said that the Clippers were sitting ducks in this series – and I still feel that way, unless Kawhi can return for Game 3 and reprise a semi-typical workload on offense.

George was unstoppable for most of Game 1, as L. A.’s lone superstar scored 33 points on 10-of-21 from the floor across the first three stanzas of the contest.

His exhausting effort still wasn’t enough to build the Clippers a significant advantage throughout the contest though, considering Sunday’s event went to the fourth quarter deadlocked at a score of 93-93.

Phoenix Suns Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 60-23 SU, 51-30-2 ATS, 46-36-1 OU
Home: 32-10 SU, 28-14 ATS, 24-17-1 OU

Despite Phoenix (+250) losing just two playoff games on their way to the Western Conference Finals, the Nets (+220) still went into their Game 7 loss to Milwaukee (+450) slightly favored to take home this year’s championship.

After knocking off Brooklyn in thrilling fashion though, the Bucks (+100) immediately leapfrogged Phoenix as the stand-alone favorite – with most books already offering them at even-money to win the whole thing.

Personally, I think the best future bets lie within this West Coast series – as the Suns fall in line right behind Milwaukee at +150, while the Clippers (+800) and Hawks (+1100) currently bring up the back end as distant longshots.

Key Injuries

Los Angeles Clippers

SF Kawhi Leonard: Knee - Out
C Serge Ibaka: Back - Out

Phoenix Suns

PG Chris Paul: COVID-19 - Questionable

Clippers vs. Suns Player Prop Best Bet

Paul George – Over 30.5 Points (-118)

Given the Clippers’ detrimental injury issues, P.G. has been forced to assume a healthy portion of his team’s offensive workload – currently averaging 32 points on 46% from the field across his latest eight-game window.

I’ll back Playoff P. to keep it going here – as I expect Tuesday’s matchup to quickly turn into a beatdown if George doesn’t bring that same intensity on offense in Game 2.