NBA Playoffs Game 2 Clippers vs Suns: Odds, Tips and predictions 04/18/23

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4.5/5

Prediction: Bet Los Angeles to cover

• Over/Under: Los Angeles vs Phoenix (225.5)
• Spread: Phoenix -7.5
• Pick: Bet Los Angeles to cover

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Sunday marked the start of this series with the Los Angeles Clippers beating the Phoenix Suns 115-110 despite entering as eight-point underdogs and pulling off an upset. Los Angeles had won their previous three head-to-head meetings against these clubs, including their final two regular-season meetings; making that four victories would be monumental!

Phoenix currently stands at 45-37 in this regular season. They have committed 21.2 fouls per game and hit 79.3% from the charity stripe; 27.3 assists were earned per game (4th best among NBA), while surrendering possession 13.5 times per game. Phoenix earned 9,319 points overall (13.6 per contest) this season while garnering 44.2 boards per contest and connecting on 46.7% from their floor, ranking 23rd best overall in basketball.

The Suns’ defense ranks sixth in the NBA for points per game allowed at 111.6, forcing 14.4 turnovers per game while allowing teams to shoot 46.6% from the field (6th in the league). Furthermore, Phoenix allows 35.7% from downtown (938 of 2,628) and opponents have made 78.6% of their free throw attempts, giving up 23.4 assists and 42.9 rebounds each game (which ranks 3rd and 11th).

Los Angeles enters this season’s campaign with an overall win-loss record of 44-38 and is averaging 113.6 points per game (seventh-best in the league) while connecting on 47.7% from the floor; 38.1% of their field goals come from outside (1,041 of 2,735) while they score 78% at the charity stripe. Los Angeles collects 43.2 boards per game as a team while totalling 1,959 assists (24th) this year which ranks them 24th overall when it comes to passing, and turnovers are 14.2 times per contest, while personal fouls total 19.5.

On defense, the Clippers are forcing 13.0 turnovers per game while drawing 19.6 fouls – ranking them 11th overall with 2,048 assists given away this season. Furthermore, their defense has surrendered 47.4% field goal percentage (3,430 of 7,243 attempts made so far), 43.1 boards per game as an entire unit, and 36.5% 3-pointers made, while placing 12th in terms of points per game allowed (113.1).

The Suns will win this game, but it should be an intense contest. Los Angeles managed to pull off an unexpected win last time despite losing the free throw attempts battle and Westbrook shooting horribly; both aspects should benefit Los Angeles this time around; couple that with their much-improved bench, and I expect this game to come down to the wire – back them just enough to beat the spread at least!