Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Prediction: Can Kawhi Leonard, Clippers Shock the Suns in Game 1?
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns meet Sunday night for the first game of their NBA playoff series. Can Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers shock the Suns? Matt McCuen breaks it down.
Matt McCuen - April 16, 2023, 11:16 AM EDT
5 minPhoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Prediction: Can Kawhi Leonard, Clippers Shock the Suns in Game 1?
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns will clash on Sunday night for game one of this first-round Western Conference series.
Suns vs. Clippers Game 1 Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Sunday, April 16, 2023
- Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Prediction
Phoenix comes into the playoffs as the favorites to come out of the West, and for a good reason. This team is full of stars led by future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant and Chris Paul and young stars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. The Suns also have one of the best coaches in the NBA, Monty Williams.
Phoenix knows that they are much more talented than their record indicates and feels as if they are the team to beat right now in the NBA. The expectations are high, and anything less than a championship would feel like a failure for this team.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, entered the year as one of the favorites to come out of the West, but injuries have slowed them down, and now they are seen as a long shot to come out of the West. The Clippers will be without one of their stars in the series, Paul George, who sustained an injury a couple of weeks ago.
This is a tough blow for the Clippers, but they feel as if they can still compete in this series led by former MVP Kawhi Leonard. Russell Westbrook will also be a guy that the Clippers need to step up his play in this series. Phoenix enters play tonight as a heavy seven-and-a-half point favorite.
I am going to trust the dog tonight and put my money on the Clippers. I like what this Clippers team did at the deadline, and I feel as if they have some overlooked players. They will certainly miss George in this series, but they have role players that are capable of stepping up and have experience this time of year.
Norman Powell and Eric Gordon are a few guys that you need to keep an eye on tonight. Both guys can score in bunches, and the Clippers will need them to turn in a strong effort to help Kawhi tonight. I think that eight points are too many here, and I like the Clippers to make this a competitive game. Let’s stay hot and cash in!
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers Pick
Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +8 (-115) Bet $100 to collect $186 DraftKings has the best odds; click here to bet
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