Clippers vs. Suns Game 1 Prediction
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday when the Suns host the Clippers on ABC. The Clippers have been successful in this series from a betting standpoint, but will they cover as a 4-point road dog?
Game Snapshot
535 Los Angeles Clippers (+4) at 536 Phoenix Suns (-4); o/u 221.5
3:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, June 20, 2021
Venue: Phoenix Suns Arena, Phoenix, AZ
TV: ABC
Los Angeles Clippers DFS Notes
Kawhi Leonard will officially not play in Game 1 against the Suns on Sunday, but coach Tyronn Lue said he’s unsure about his status for Game 2 on Tuesday. Kawhi didn’t even travel to Phoenix with the team so this is just further confirmation that he won’t play in Game 1. However, he has not been ruled out for Game 2 yet, and while Lue’s somewhat optimistic take is nice, the Claw’s return in Game 2 would be pretty surprising. Terance Mann thrived in his previous contest with an absurdly efficient 39 points, and he’ll see an extended role for as long as Kawhi is sidelined.
Phoenix Suns DFS Notes
Chris Paul (health and safety protocols) will not play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Clippers on Monday, per Shams Charania on Twitter. This is a brutal blow for the Suns as they will be without their starting point guard and their leader in Game 1. CP3 is more than ready for this stage after dropping 37 points in Game 4 against the Nuggets in the previous round, and you can’t help but to feel bad for Paul and the Suns right now. Cameron Payne will likely enter the starting lineup in his absence, while Devin Booker’s usage should spike in a more ball-handling heavy role.
Clippers vs. Suns Playoffs Prediction
The Clippers are 14-5 against the spread in their last 19 games versus the Suns and have covered in four straight games overall. They’re also 5-2 at the betting window in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning record and are 4-0 against the number in their last four games when playing on one day of rest. The Suns, meanwhile, are 5-16 against the spread in their last 22 games playing on three or more days of rest.
NBA PLAYOFFS PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS +4