Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns Predictions, Odds, Picks

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Thursday night with a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns. Coverage begins from Footprint Center at 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

SCORE PREDICTION

Suns 118, Clippers 103

BEST BETS

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS PREDICTIONS

After finishing second in the West with a record of 51-21 SU last year, Phoenix kept that same train moving forward with an excellent start to this season, as the Suns opened with an impressive 26-5 SU and 17-14 ATS run – with 14 of those victories coming by 10+ PTS.

Health issues quickly caught up with Phoenix over the Holidays though, considering the Suns are just 3-3 SU and ATS since the absences of Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder, JaVale McGee, and Landry Shamet – despite getting tagged as favorites in all six of those contests.

On the other hand, Los Angeles posted a decent start to the season, as the Clippers kicked things off with a pedestrian 17-15 SU and 14-18 ATS stretch – positioning themselves comfortably within playoff contention as the halfway point of the year approaches.

L. A. has fallen apart since Paul George’s latest injury though, considering the Clippers are just 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six games – while averaging 105.2 PPG offensively and surrendering 110.6 PPG defensively across that timeframe.

I’ll lay the points with Phoenix here, as the Clippers have scored 108 PTS or less in nine of their last ten games (103.4 PPG) – which likely won’t be enough to keep up with a Suns squad that has scored 113+ PTS in five of their last seven matchups (116 PPG).

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS BETTING ODDS

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LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Pacific
  • Date: Thursday, January 6, 2022
  • Venue: Footprint Center
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • TV-Time: TNT - 10:00 p.m. ET
  • Injury Report

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 19-19
  • ATS: 17-21
  • O/U: 17-21

Most people lost faith in L. A. after Kawhi Leonard’s devastating knee injury last year – but it turns out, the Clippers still stand as a solid team without him, considering they decisively handled business against Utah for the remainder of that series, and then went toe-to-toe with Phoenix for the length of a competitive six-game conference final set.

The same cannot be said when George is also removed from the equation though, considering the Clippers are just 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS since PG’s latest injury – while scoring 100 PTS or less in half of those matchups (105.6 PPG).

PHOENIX SUNS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 29-8
  • ATS: 20-17
  • O/U: 17-19-1

After battling for the conference crown all the way through the final calendar day of last year’s regular season, it was surprising to see Phoenix struggle out of the gate to start the year, as the Suns lost three of their first four games to start the season.

Phoenix clearly just needed a few days to knock off the rust though, considering the Suns enter Thursday following wins in 28 of the last 33 games, which is a product of an incredibly well-balanced attack, as their offense currently ranks third in scoring and sixth in offensive efficiency (112.6 PPG, 1.091 OE) – while also ranking second in both defensive efficiency and opponent floor percentage (1.017 DE, 46.8% FG).
The Clippers are 3-7 SU in their last ten games.

(AP)

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Clippers won two-of-three regular-season matchups against Phoenix last year, before ultimately meeting up in the Western Conference Finals, which resulted in a six-game series victory for the Suns.

The most recent matchup between these teams took place roughly a month ago though, and resulted in another commanding victory for the Clippers – which doesn’t bode well for L. A., considering Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton both did not participate in that contest.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • LAC: Reggie Jackson - PG (16.9 PPG, 3.4 REB, 4.1 AST)
  • LAC: Marcus Morris - PF (15.2 PPG, 5 REB, 2.2 AST)
  • PHO: Devin Booker - SG (23.9 PPG, 5.3 REB, 4.5 AST)
  • PHO: Chris Paul - PG (14.1 PPG, 4.2 REB, 10.1 AST)

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS BETTING CONCLUSION

After posting an ugly home loss to the Wolves on Monday night (L, 122-104), the Clippers travel to Phoenix for Thursday’s contests as moderate underdogs against the Suns at the Footprint Center – marking the sixth time L. A. has been an underdog across the last seven games.

I’ll lay the points with Phoenix here, as the Clippers are just 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last ten games, with four of those losses coming by double-digits – setting the stage for a tough road matchup against a Suns squad that’s 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four games, while averaging a lofty 119.8 PPG across that window.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. PHOENIX SUNS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Clippers are 4-2 ATS in their last six matchups against Phoenix.
  • The Clippers are 3-7 SU in their last ten games.
  • The total has gone UNDER six of the last nine matchups between the Suns and Clippers.
  • The Suns are 16-2 SU in their last 18 home games.