The Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns meet Tuesday in Game 5 of the NBA West First Round Playoffs at the Footprint Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Los Angeles Clippers are averaging 112 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 118.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 34.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Russell Westbrook is averaging 26 points and 7.5 rebounds. Norman Powell is the third double-digit scorer and Eric Gordon is grabbing 1.8 rebounds. The Los Angeles Clippers are shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free throw line. The Los Angeles Clippers are allowing 38 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 38.5 rebounds per game.
The Phoenix Suns are averaging 118.5 points on 50.6 percent shooting and allowing 112 points on 46.3 percent shooting. Devin Booker is averaging 34.8 points and 5.5 assists, while Kevin Durant is averaging 27.8 points and 8 rebounds. Torrey Craig is the third double-digit scorer and Deandre Ayton is grabbing 11.3 rebounds. The Phoenix Suns are shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc and 79.2 percent from the free throw line. The Phoenix Suns are allowing 36.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.8 rebounds per game.
The Clippers are 5-23 ATS in their last 28 games playing on 2 days rest and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Suns are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 Conference Quarterfinals games. The over is 6-1-1 in Clippers last 8 overall. The over is 5-1-1 in Suns last 7 overall. The over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings in Phoenix and 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
The Los Angeles Clippers are a deep team that's putting up a fight, but at some point, you're asking a lot when they're without their best player in Kawhi Leonard. The Phoenix Suns have a clear edge with the Clippers undermanned, and they benefit of the extra day of rest given that Booker and Durant have been logging heavy minutes. If the Suns get off to a fast start at home, we could see the Clippers fold. The Kawhi injury messed this series up. I'll lay the chalk, as the Clippers are likely to run out of gas in this game.
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
