Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers will aim to stay alive in the 2021 NBA Playoffs on Monday evening. The Clippers, trailing 3-1, will visit the Phoenix Suns for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. Los Angeles fell by an 84-80 margin in Game 4, putting its season on the brink as a must-win scenario approaches. Kawhi Leonard (knee) is out for the Clippers, as he has been throughout the series.
William Hill Sportsbook lists Phoenix as a six-point home favorite in the Clippers vs. Suns odds. The over-under for total points is 211.5 for this 9 p.m. ET tip-off. Before locking in any Suns vs. Clippers NBA picks today, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. The model is up almost $700 on its top-rated picks this season and entered the conference finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on a stunning 100-66 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread dating back to last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has locked in its Clippers vs. Suns picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Suns vs. Clippers:
- Clippers vs. Suns spread: Suns -6
- Clippers vs. Suns over-under: 211.5 points
- Clippers vs. Suns money line: Suns -250, Clippers +210
- LAC: Clippers are 6-3-1 against the spread in the last 10 games
- PHX: Suns are 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Clippers can cover
The Clippers are an explosive offensive team. Los Angeles finished No. 3 in offensive rating, scoring 116.7 points per 100 possessions, and it led the NBA in 3-point accuracy (41.1 percent) and free-throw accuracy (83.9 percent). On the whole, the Clippers were No. 2 in shooting efficiency, and they should be due for an uptick in true shooting percentage after shooting 59.9 percent during the 72-game season. In the playoffs, Los Angeles has excelled defensively, but the Clippers also have a remarkably efficient 11.5 percent turnover rate.
Simply generating more shots than an opponent is usually a good recipe for success, and the Clippers are also the better offensive rebounding team in this series. Reggie Jackson is also excelling, averaging 21.5 points per game in this series, and the veteran guard is knocking down 41 percent of his 3-point attempts in the postseason. Jackson flanks Paul George, who is putting up 27.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game to lead the Clippers in this series.
Why the Suns can cover
The Suns are in a fantastic position, in part because of standout individual performances. Even with Chris Paul missing time earlier in the series, Phoenix never wavered, as Devin Booker continues his superstar breakout. Booker is averaging 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the postseason, and he is joined in high-end productivity by Deandre Ayton. Ayton has been a dominant two-way force in the playoffs, averaging 20.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, and Paul provides a steady hand with overall two-way excellence.
Phoenix is one of the best statistical teams in the playoffs, and that is a carryover from the regular season. The Suns were a top-seven team in both offensive rating (116.3 points per 100 possessions) and defensive rating (110.4 points allowed per 100 possessions) during the 72-game marathon. Phoenix was an elite shooting team, posting a 49.0 percent clip from the floor and a 83.4 percent clip from the line, and the Suns are tremendous at generating assists (26.9 per game) and limiting turnovers (12.5 per game). Defensively, the Suns make life difficult on opponents by limiting 3-point shooting (35.4 percent) and ranking in the top-five in assists allowed at just 22.9 per game during the regular season.
How to make Suns vs. Clippers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 217 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only get this pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Clippers vs. Suns? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
