Strap in for a long series.  After originally being listed as questionable for Phoenix on Sunday, Chris Paul not only played, he led the Suns to a 100-92 win to draw even with the L.A. Lakers in their first round series.  Tied 2-2 in the series, these teams are set to meet at least two more times before a winner is declared.

Phoenix is a 5.5.-point home favourite on the NBA odds to win Game 5.  The total is set at 207.

Lakers vs. Suns NBA Playoff Odds

It’s tough to bet against LeBron James and it shows, as Sports Interaction bettors are split down the middle on taking Phoenix or L.A.  With such a low total, there’s more consensus on the Over/Under, with 75 per cent of bettors banking on a high scoring game.  It’s worth noting, however, that these teams have failed to hit the Over in all four games of this series.

The Lakers failed to hit the Over on the road in Game 1 or Game 2, but it’s worth noting they’ve actually gone above the mark in 11 of their last 25 games in Phoenix.  They’re now 13-6 straight up in their last 19 games against the Suns.  Despite currently being +148 underdogs to win this series, L.A. still has the second-best odds to win the Western Conference at +225.  The defending champs also have the third-best odds of winning this year’s championship at +500.  Ironically, their Western Conference odds and NBA Championship odds are both better than Phoenix’s.

For the most part, the Suns have had low scoring games against L.A., recently.  The total has gone Under in nine of Phoenix’s last 13 games against the Lakers.  The Suns’ odds to win the series have dropped, but they’re still a -182 favourite.  They’re at +900 to win the Western Conference and +2000 to win the NBA Championship.

Los Angeles Lakers

The story for Game 5 will be Anthony Davis‘ status.  He was a game-time decision for Game 4 as he dealt with a sprained knee, and while he ended up playing, he left in the first half with a groin strain.  Davis is listed as doubtful for Game 5 on Tuesday, but it’s worth monitoring his status as we get closer to tip-off.

James had to do a little bit of everything in Davis’ absence on Sunday, finishing with a game-high 25 points to go along with 12 rebounds and six assists.  L.A.’s bench scoring  did as much as they could, but when Marc Gasol‘s 12-point night is the second-highest player-total on your team, it’s generally not a good game.  The Lakers do, however, have the luxury of Gasol, Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell and Davis as big bodies to win the gritty fights in the paint as this series moves on.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns opted for a balanced attack rather than relying solely on stars like Devin Booker or Deandre Ayton in Game 4 and it worked.  Six players hit double-digit points, including Booker, who had 17 points and seven rebounds, as well as Ayton, who finished with 14 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.  It was Chris Paul though, who led the team with 18 points and nine assists.  It was a bit of historic night for Paul, as he moved to 17th on the NBA’s all-time playoff assist list and to 18th on the all-time playoff steals list.

Ayton is continuing to have a strong series in his first career NBA postseason.  Prior to Sunday, Ayton was averaging 21.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game on 82.1 per cent shooting from the field and he’s finished with a double-double in every game of this series.

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Suns Team Leaders

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.02
Assists	LeBron James 7.78
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 10.19
FG%	Montrezl Harrell 62.2
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.64

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 25.55
Assists	Chris Paul 8.89
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 10.54
FG%	Deandre Ayton 62.6
Steals	Chris Paul 1.41
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.17

LAL

Points	LeBron James 23.33
Assists	LeBron James 8
Rebounds	Andre Drummond 11
FG%	Marc Gasol 61.5
Steals	LeBron James 1.5
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

PHO

Points	Devin Booker 27.32
Assists	Chris Paul 8.55
Rebounds	Deandre Ayton 11.82
FG%	Ty-Shon Alexander 100
Steals	Chris Paul 1.15
Blocks	Deandre Ayton 1.09

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Ques Thurs Knee - 02 / 06 / 21

Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)

Out indefinitely Personal - 31 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 28 / 05 / 21

Andre Drummond (C)

Ques Sun Leg - 20 / 05 / 21

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 16 / 05 / 21

Kyle Kuzma (PF)

Prob Sat Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)

Prob Sun Foot - 14 / 05 / 21

Marc Gasol (C)

Prob Sun Finger - 14 / 05 / 21

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Phoenix

Torrey Craig (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 09 / 07 / 21

Dario Saric (SF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 06 / 07 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Ques Tues Illness - 30 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

Prob Sat Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21

Cameron Payne (PG)

day-to-day Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21

Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)

Ques Wed Illness - 03 / 06 / 21

Jae Crowder (SF)

Out Sun Rest - 16 / 05 / 21

Deandre Ayton (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 13 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Sun Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 02 / 06 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 31 / 05 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is away from the team while tending to a personal matter, and there is no timetable for return.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 28 / 05 / 21	2-2	0-3-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is nursing a left knee contusion, but he is likely to suit up for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Andre Drummond (C)	Ques Sun	Leg - 20 / 05 / 21	3-3	0-5-1	+ -
Drummond is dealing with a leg injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Suns.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Caruso is battling left foot soreness, but he is likely to be active for Sunday's game versus the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 16 / 05 / 21	3-4	1-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is bothered by lower-back tightness, but he is projected to be available for Sunday's contest against the Pelicans.
Kyle Kuzma (PF)	Prob Sat	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Kuzma is hindered by lower-back tightness, but he is likely to be in Saturday's lineup versus the Pacers.
Alfonzo McKinnie (SF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
McKinnie was held out of the last game with a right foot sprain, but it is likely that he will take on the Pelicans on Sunday.
Marc Gasol (C)	Prob Sun	Finger - 14 / 05 / 21	3-5	2-5-1	+ -
Gasol missed the last game due to a finger injury, but it is anticipated that he will be available to face the Pelicans on Sunday.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	4-6	3-6-1	+ -
Caldwell-Pope is expected to suit up against the Rockets despite an ankle injury.

Phoenix

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Torrey Craig (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 09 / 07 / 21	2-3	3-1-1	+ -
Craig is bothered by a right knee contusion, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Bucks.
Dario Saric (SF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 06 / 07 / 21	3-3	4-1-1	+ -
Saric has torn his right ACL and he will miss an extended period.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Ques Tues	Illness - 30 / 06 / 21	3-4	5-1-1	+ -
Johnson is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will take on the Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Cameron Payne (PG)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 25 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne is nursing a left ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 4 of the Western Conference final versus the Clippers.
Cameron Payne (PG)	day-to-day	Ankle - 24 / 06 / 21	4-6	5-4-1	+ -
Payne was lifted from Thursday's game with a left ankle injury, and he will not return.
Ty-Shon Alexander (PG)	Ques Wed	Illness - 03 / 06 / 21	11-6	9-7-1	+ -
Alexander is ailing from an illness, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round against the Nuggets.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Out Sun	Rest - 16 / 05 / 21	14-8	11-10-2	+ -
Crowder will not suit up for Sunday's tilt against the Spurs, as he will be given a day of rest.
Deandre Ayton (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 13 / 05 / 21	14-10	12-11-2	+ -
Ayton is dealing with left knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 06 / 05 / 21	15-12	15-11-2	+ -
Johnson has been out of commission due to a right wrist sprain, but he is expected to take on the Lakers in the Western Conference first round.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 02 / 05 / 21	17-13	18-11-2	+ -
Johnson is tending to a sprained right wrist, but he is likely to take the court Sunday versus the Thunder.