The Los Angeles Clippers (15-12) host the Phoenix Suns (21-4) Monday in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. The tip-off at Staples Center is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Suns vs. Clippers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Phoenix is 4-1 straight-up (SU), 2-3 ATS and 1-4 O/U with the fifth-best non-garbage time-efficiency differential over the last two weeks, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG). The Suns recently won back-to-back games vs. the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics.
L.A. has rattled off three straight wins vs. the Portland Trail Blazers, Celtics and Orland Magic. The Clippers are 4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS and 4-3 O/U with the 17th-ranked non-garbage time net rating over the past two weeks.
The Suns beat the Clippers 4-2 in last season’s Western Conference Finals (3-3 ATS) and the total was split 3-3 O/U in the series. During the previous regular season, L.A. won and covered two of three meetings with Phoenix.
Suns at Clippers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:39 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Suns -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Clippers +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Against the spread (ATS): Suns -3.5 (-110) | Clippers +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 211.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Suns at Clippers key injuries
Suns
- C Deandre Ayton (illness) questionable
- SG Devin Booker (hamstring) out
Clippers
- SF Nicolas Batum (ankle) questionable
- SF Paul George (elbow) doubtful
Suns at Clippers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Suns 109, Clippers 98
Money line
PASS since I only “lean” to Phoenix laying the points and am not confident enough to lay it with the Suns (-160) in this spot.
If Clippers wing Paul George ends up missing Monday’s game and Phoenix remains a -160 ML favorite, then the Suns would be a good wager.
Against the spread
“LEAN” SUNS -3.5 (-110) because this line feels too good to be true. There are a lot of reasons to like Phoenix in this spot and the only counterargument for the Suns is “the public is betting Phoenix.”
However, the Suns destroy bad offenses and the Clippers haven’t played well vs. quality competition this season.
L.A. is 25th in offensive points per 100 possessions. While Phoenix is 8-0 SU with a plus-11.0 points per 100 possessions and a plus-3.4 ATS margin vs. bottom-10 defenses, according CTG.
The Clippers are 1-4 SU with a minus-8.1 points per 100 possessions and a minus-9.4 ATS margin (ranked 29th) vs. teams in the top 10 of efficiency differential, per CTG.
Perhaps this is a trap game, but more often than not the SUNS -3.5 (-110) ticket cashes in this spot. Also, the Clippers have only covered once in their last seven home games.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 211.5 (-115) for a tiny wager if at all because I much prefer Phoenix laying the points more than the total in this game. Especially since both teams play at an above-average pace.
But Phoenix ranks second in defensive rating and L.A. fourth, while the Under has been hit by “sharp money.” This total opened at 213 and has been steamed down by the pro-Under wagers.
On top of that, the Under has cashed in five of Phoenix’s previous six games and three of L.A.’s past four contests.
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