Expert prediction
NBA: Clippers vs Suns First Round Playoff Series Prediction, Odds and Pick
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Suns and Clippers face off in a star-studded Western Conference Playoff battle.
- The Suns have been dominant since Kevin Durant joined the team.
- The Clippers will be without Paul George for the entire series as he deals with an injury.
The Suns and Clippers face off in the 4-5 battle, with the winner going on to face the Denver Nuggets (most likely).
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How to Watch
- When: Game 1, Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 8 PM ET
- Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
- How to Watch: TNT
- When: Game 2, Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 10 PM ET
- Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
- How to Watch: TNT
- When: Game 3, Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 10:30 PM ET
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- How to Watch: NBATV
- When: Game 4, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 3:30 PM ET
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- How to Watch: TNT
- When: Game 5, Tuesday, April 25, 2023, TBD (If Necessary)
- Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
- How to Watch: TBD
- When: Game 6, Thursday, April 27, 2023, TBD (If Necessary)
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- How to Watch: TBD
- When: Game 7, Saturday, April 29, 2023, TBD (If Necessary)
- Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
- How to Watch: TNT
Odds
| TEAM | Odds |
| Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Phoenix Suns | – |
Game Preview
The Los Angeles Clippers finished the season as the 5th seed, and that’s arguably the worst-case scenario for anybody in the Western Conference. The Phoenix Suns are a popular pick by many to make the NBA Finals, and they fell into the 4th seed after a series of injuries.
The Suns and Clippers have split the four-game season series, so there is some hope. However, the victory in February for the Clippers had both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the floor while the Suns didn’t have Kevin Durant.
The last time the Suns played the Clippers in the playoffs was in 2021, and Chris Paul was lights out in that series.
In the final regular season game, these teams faced off, but the Suns rested everybody while Leonard and Russell Westbrook both played 35 or more minutes, and LA still won by just five points.
READ MORE: NBA: Knicks vs Cavaliers First Round Series Odds, and Picks
The Suns enter the playoffs with seven wins in the last nine games, and the two losses came at the end of the regular season with all four of their stars getting some rest.
The addition of Kevin Durant has this team thinking about an NBA Finals return, and that spells bad news for the Clippers.
Paul George is still nursing an injury, and all signs point to him being absent for the entire first-round series, which is devastating for LA. However, he was seen getting some shots up on Wednesday, so that’s an encouraging sign.
Prediction
Kawhi Leonard is healthy and ready to roll for the playoffs, and that’s a massive help for LA. However, the Suns are simply too talented and have been rolling with Durant in the lineup. Even if Durant has an off night, Phoenix still has Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul. I don’t expect this series to be a sweep, but I do have the Suns winning this series in six games and moving on to face the Denver Nuggets in a Western Conference showdown.
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