Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns Game 1 Prediction, Playoff Odds

Jordan Ramsay | Updated Jun 20, 2021

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With Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul both out for an undetermined amount of time, which team can step up without their star player and which team will fall short?

L.A. Clippers
47-25
AT
June 20, 2021, 3:30 PM ET
Talking Stick Resort Arena
Phoenix
51-21
Pointspread +4 -110
Moneyline +140
Over / Under o +219.5

40%

Betting Action

60%

Matchup Odds
Pointspread -4 -110
Moneyline -165
Over / Under u +219.5

40%

Betting Action

60%

Matchup Odds

The Western Conference Finals kick off on Sunday when the L.A. Clippers travel to Phoenix to face the Suns.  The Clippers are playing in their first Conference Final in franchise history, after taking out the Utah Jazz in six games.  After sweeping the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix is in the West Final for the first time since 2010, the last time they made the playoffs.

The Suns are 3.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with a total of 220.

Clippers vs. Suns NBA Playoff Odds

Despite only winning one of three games against the Clippers in the regular season, Phoenix is a -250 favourite to win the series.  The only win the Suns walked away with was a 109-101 decision in Phoenix on April 28.  The Clippers won 113-103 in L.A. on April 8 and 112-107 in Phoenix on January 3.  The January game went Over, while the last two games went Under.

The Clippers have had Phoenix’s number over the last few years.  L.A. is 16-3 straight up in their last 19 games against the Suns, including 8-2 SU in their last 10 in Phoenix.  The Clips have been racking up the points in the playoffs, hitting the Over in four of six games against Utah.  They’re +175 underdogs to win the series and +400 to win the NBA Championship.

Phoenix has completely dominated the first two rounds of the playoffs.  They’ve won their last seven games, with their last loss coming back in Game 2 of their first-round series against the L.A. Lakers.  The Suns are 18-2 SU in their last 20 home games and they’ve hit the Over in 13 of their last 20 games overall.  Phoenix is +220 to win the NBA Championship.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are going to be in serious trouble if they can’t get Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup soon.  Leonard missed the final two games of the Conference Semifinals with a knee injury, which was rumoured to be an a torn ACL.  There won’t be any conformation on how serious his injury is until the swelling in his knee goes down, but it’s hard to see L.A. having a chance in this series without Leonard.  In the postseason, Leonard is averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting 57.3 per cent from the field and 39.3 per cent from beyond the arc.

With Leonard out, Paul George will need to carry the load for the Clippers.  George torched Phoenix in the regular season, averaging 32.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while shooting 56.3 per cent from the field and 60.7 per cent from the 3-point line.  Mikal Bridges defended George more than any player in the league this year, so that matchup will be big in this series.

A potential X-factor for L.A. will be Terance Mann, who was nearly unstoppable in the series clinching game against Utah.  Mann put up a career-high 39 points in the Game 6 win, 20 of which came in the third quarter to help L.A. come back from a 25-point deficit.  Mann only started 10 games in the regular season, but he was essentially plugged into the starting lineup whenever Leonard or George couldn’t play, so he’s due for some big minutes in Game 1.

Phoenix Suns

L.A. isn’t the only team missing one of their star players, as Phoenix will start the series without Chris Paul.  After reportedly testing positive for COVID on June 16, it’s unclear when, or if, Paul will be able to return in this series.  He was a big part of the sweep against Denver, averaging 25.5 points, 10.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.  It was the best playoff series of Paul’s career, as he shot an incredible 62.7 per cent from the field and 75.0 per cent from three.  While those numbers likely aren’t sustainable, the absence of Paul is clearly a big blow to Phoenix.

Devin Booker will be the key Suns player to watch.  In the season series against the Clippers, Booker averaged 23.3 points per game, shooting 48.9 per cent from the field.  He struggled, however, to hit the three-ball against L.A.  Booker shot 18.2 per cent from beyond the arc, primarily being guarded by George.  With Leonard out of L.A.’s lineup though, and George being forced to shoulder more of the offensive load, Booker could get a little more time and space to hit the long-ball.

Cameron Payne could be a player to watch for Phoenix.  In the first-round against the Lakers, Payne averaged 12.5 points and 3.3 assists per game and shot 42.3 per cent from the 3-point line.  He had a smaller role in the second-round series against Denver, but with Paul out of the lineup, Payne will see more minutes and could be primed for another big series.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Clippers vs. Suns?

NBA Predictions
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  • LAC
  • +4 -4
  • PHO
Matchup NBA Odds