It’s been a rough sequence of events for LA since capturing Game 1 over a week ago. Maybe part of the problem is that the early victory caught Phoenix’s attention and the latter hasn’t taken the Clippers lightly since, winning the fourth bout 112-100. Then there is the elephant in the room: Kawhi Leonard’s absence in games 3 and 4 and his uncertain status for the fifth tilt.

The host Suns are heavily favoured to get this series over with as they sit at -12.0 on the NBA odds. The total is 224.0.

Clippers vs. Suns NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

No one should be surprised that Monty Williams’ Suns currently cost -10,000 on the series line given where the chips lay through four games. The Clippers have their work cut out for them at +1286.

Leonard, the enigmatic superstar, is still listed as Day-to-Day. That is the biggest X-factor in the series. He was stupendous in the first two games even though LA only won one, and his absence was felt at home where the Clippers put in admirable performances twice but to no avail. If some of the players on this roster can hold their hats onto anything, it’s a Game 5 win in Phoenix two years ago in the Western Conference final. Granted, LA was eliminated at home in game 6, but that bridge will be crossed if the Clippers ever get to it.

There are a lot of players from that 2021 Suns squad still around, as well as the head coach. They know what it’s like to have the Clippers where they want them and let an opportunity to finish them off expediently slip away. Furthermore, they let the Pelicans hand around for longer than necessary in last year’s first-round series. One assumes there is an incentive to demonstrate that they don’t make a habit of playing with their food.

Los Angeles Clippers

Without Leonard or Paul George, the Clippers can only do so much. It’s almost unfair, especially given that Russell Westbrook in playing some of his basketball in years.

Game 4 was yet another contest that started brightly for the undermanned Los Angeles club. They led 30-23 after the opening stanza, which was great, except that they had led early other times in this series and didn’t win. Westbrook has more than re-earned good graces in this series, and his Game 4 performance was once again excellent. He went 17-for-29 for 37 points (team lead), to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Four turnovers didn’t help though. Norman Powell couldn’t replicate his stellar Game 3 outing, finishing with only 14 points. In fact, no other Clipper came close to Westbrook’s production. Rebounding matters, especially at this time of year. Losing that battle 49 to 33 was always going to hurt them.

Phoenix Suns

It was a business-like victory in Game 4. 112-100 is not insulting toward the losing side nor overwhelmingly impressive for the winning team. Just the sort of score that lets anyone who didn’t follow the contest know that it was “kind of” close but the Suns got the job done.

Devin Booker didn’t go out of his mind this time, but the mere fact that 30 points felt slightly under par for him says enough. While Kevin Durant led his side with 31 points, it was Chris Paul who, much like he did in Game 2, provided the late-game spark Phoenix needed to pull away. Scoring 19 won’t bat many eyes, but his ruthless efficiency and majestic buckets broke Clipper spirits. One in particular late in the fourth quarter – a spin-around fadeaway as the shot clock expired – was the kind of shot that won’t go in 99 times out of 100. This just happened to the one exception. The Suns didn’t cruise to a 112-100, but nor did they ever seem especially concerned. Up 3-1, they can get the job done.

Game 5 Prediction: Who Will Win Clippers vs. Suns?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Clippers Team Leaders

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 23.83
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.62
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.95
FG%	Mason Plumlee 72.7
Steals	Paul George 1.48
Blocks	Ivica Zubac 1.29

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 34.5
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.4
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.6
FG%	Mason Plumlee 87.5
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2
Blocks	Russell Westbrook 1.4

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 23.83
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.62
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.95
FG%	Mason Plumlee 72.7
Steals	Paul George 1.48
Blocks	Ivica Zubac 1.29

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.75
Assists	Chris Paul 8.88
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.96
FG%	Deandre Ayton 58.9
Steals	Chris Paul 1.54
Blocks	Bismack Biyombo 1.44

LAC

Points	Kawhi Leonard 34.5
Assists	Russell Westbrook 7.4
Rebounds	Ivica Zubac 9.6
FG%	Mason Plumlee 87.5
Steals	Kawhi Leonard 2
Blocks	Russell Westbrook 1.4

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 33.73
Assists	Chris Paul 7.43
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 9.7
FG%	Jock Landale 63
Steals	Devin Booker 1.73
Blocks	Kevin Durant 1.36

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 20 / 04 / 23

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Sat Hip - 07 / 04 / 23

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Wed Hip - 31 / 03 / 23

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

Ques Fri Personal - 29 / 03 / 23

Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 27 / 03 / 23

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

Prob Mon Face - 26 / 03 / 23

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 17 / 03 / 23

Brandon Boston Jr. (PG)

Prob Sat Tailbone - 08 / 03 / 23

Kawhi Leonard (SF)

Out Fri Rest - 03 / 03 / 23

Norman Powell (SG)

Prob Wed Shoulder - 03 / 03 / 23

Phoenix

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Thurs Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Thurs Groin - 02 / 05 / 23

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Bismack Biyombo (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 08 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 08 / 04 / 23

Kevin Durant (SF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Deandre Ayton (C)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Devin Booker (SG)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Injuries

L.A. Clippers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 20 / 04 / 23	1-2	2-1	+ -
Leonard is sidelined with a right knee sprain, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Sat	Hip - 07 / 04 / 23	3-4	5-1-1	+ -
Gordon is projected to take on the Trail Blazers on Saturday despite a hip injury.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 31 / 03 / 23	4-6	7-2-1	+ -
Gordon missed the previous contest due to right hip soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Lakers on Wednesday.
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	Ques Fri	Personal - 29 / 03 / 23	5-6	8-2-1	+ -
Leonard missed the last game due to a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will be active for Friday's clash versus the Grizzlies.
Marcus Morris Sr. (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 27 / 03 / 23	5-7	9-2-1	+ -
Morris is dealing with back spasms, but it is not expected to affect his status against the Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	Prob Mon	Face - 26 / 03 / 23	6-7	10-2-1	+ -
Leonard exited the previous contest with a facial contusion, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Bulls on Monday.
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 17 / 03 / 23	8-9	11-5-1	+ -
Leonard sat out the last contest due to a right knee injury, but it is projected that he will be active for Sunday's battle with the Trail Blazers.
Brandon Boston Jr. (PG)	Prob Sat	Tailbone - 08 / 03 / 23	10-10	12-7-1	+ -
Boston Jr. has been idle with a tailbone contusion, but he is expected to return to the court Saturday versus the Pelicans.
Kawhi Leonard (SF)	Out Fri	Rest - 03 / 03 / 23	11-12	13-9-1	+ -
Leonard will not participate in Friday's contest versus the Kings as he will be given a day of rest.
Norman Powell (SG)	Prob Wed	Shoulder - 03 / 03 / 23	11-12	13-9-1	+ -
Powell has been sidelined with a left shoulder subluxation, but it is likely that he will take the court Wednesday against the Grizzlies.

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Thurs	Ribs - 10 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Ayton is nursing a rib contusion, and he will not face the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Thurs	Groin - 02 / 05 / 23	2-3	3-2	+ -
Paul is hobbled by a left groin strain, and he will not partake in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Nuggets.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	5-7	8-3-1	+ -
Paul will sit out for Sunday's showdown with the Clippers for rest purposes.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Ayton is taking a day of rest and will not be available Sunday versus the Clippers.
Bismack Biyombo (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Biyombo is managing a right knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Devin Booker (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Booker will not be in the lineup against the Clippers on Sunday as he will be taking a day of rest.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Payne has been idle with lower-back soreness, but it is anticipated that he will return to the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference against the Clippers.
Kevin Durant (SF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	5-8	9-3-1	+ -
Durant is tending to an ankle injury, but it is anticipated that he will participate versus the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Ayton missed the last game as he was given a day of rest, and it is uncertain if he will play versus the Clippers on Sunday.
Devin Booker (SG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	6-8	9-4-1	+ -
Booker missed the last contest as he was given a day of rest, and it is undetermined if he will suit up on Sunday against the Clippers.