Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Game 4 Prediction, NBA Odds

Edgar Chaput | Updated Apr 21, 2023

NBA: Playoffs-Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers

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The balance of power in the series has shifted from the Clippers to the Suns. The latter hold a 2-1 edge heading into Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

Phoenix
45-37
AT
April 22, 2023, 3:30 PM ET
Staples Center
L.A. Clippers
44-38
Pointspread -8 -110
Moneyline -332
Over / Under o +227

43%

Betting Action

57%

Matchup Odds
Pointspread +8 -110
Moneyline +273
Over / Under u +227

43%

Betting Action

57%

Matchup Odds

The Clippers received the worst news imaginable in the hours prior to Game 3’s tip-off: Kawhi Leonard’s aggravated knee troubles were to keep him sidelined. Having already relinquished a series lead, LA would have to face Kevin Durant and company without its undisputed star. The result? A valiant effort, but a 129-124 Suns win.

The current NBA odds for Saturday’s tilt have Phoenix as a -5.0 favourite and the total set for 226.5.

Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

Monty Williams’ Phoenix unit is a massive -1429 favourite to win the series at this stage. Not helping the Clippers’ +623 cause is that Leonard is still listed Day-to-Day as of this writing. Should the Los Angeles superstar not be available, the Suns should smell blood in the water. At this stage last year they led the Pelicans 2-1 and still found themselves in a six-game dogfight despite that New Orleans was undermanned without Zion Williamson.

For Tyronn Lue’s side, things need to turn around in a hurry. They’re putting up a good fight, fully deserving of their Game 1 win with a couple of decent but ultimately insufficient performances in games 2 and 3. This version of the Clippers is a lot like the Brooklyn Nets insofar as they have decent players on the roster (when available) but haven’t been in this situation before together on the same team.

Phoenix Suns

It definitely didn’t come as easily as some might have thought given that neither Kawhi nor Paul George played – the latter is out for the series – but Phoenix got the job done in the end. The Suns were only up by three points at halftime.

Devin Booker has taken over the reins of this series. That’s both a good thing for the Suns and a bad thing for the Clippers (more on them later). He went ballistic for 45 points in Game 3 and was the main catalyst for Phoenix holding on to its modest lead for most of the second half. Thank goodness for his efforts because the visitors didn’t even shoot as well as the hosts (47.7 per cent to 54.2). The Suns are nevertheless getting precisely the sort of contributions they need out of the supporting cast. Deandre Ayton had 12, Torrey Craig had 15, Chris Paul 11. Even KD put in a “quiet” 28 points. Everyone is contributing in their own capacity. The only consistent negative is Paul’s, well, inconsistency (he was 5-for-18).

Los Angeles Clippers

At the very least the Los Angeles Clippers played about as well as they could have without their two clearcut stars. Some teams would have folded, but Tyronn Lue got enough fight out of them to make Game 3 interesting.

When the series began we talked about how Norman Powell could become a key factor for LA because he won a championship with Leonard in 2019. He had his best night in a long time, compiling 42 points off 15-for-23 shooting. And don’t look now, but Russell Westbrook, save for those darned turnovers (six), is playing some of his best basketball in years. He tallied 30 points (11-for-23), eight rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals. If he wasn’t coughing up the ball so much he’d practically be a series MVP. The biggest issue right now for LA is that the other team is going to have to lose the series more so than LA winning it. It’s great that Powell and Westbrook are putting in inspiring performances (Bones Hyland was great on Thursday too), but they aren’t as good as Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Game 4: Who Will Win Suns vs. Clippers?

NBA Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • PHO
  • -8 +8
  • LAC
Matchup NBA Odds