Suns Favored To Stamp Ticket To NBA Finals

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Phoenix Suns played for an NBA championship, but that streak could end tonight if the Suns (62-24 SU, 52-32-2) can finish off the Clippers (56-33, 49-38-2) in Game 5. Phoenix, which is 10-1 SU and 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games, opened as 6.5-point favorites.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The opener of Phoenix -6.5 was two points more than the Suns were favored by in their two previous games at home in this series. The total also opened four points lower than it was for the last meeting in Phoenix, hardly a surprise after Game 4’s defensive struggle went UNDER the total by 53.5 points.

Los Angeles News & Notes

If there’s a team that won’t be intimidated by a 1-3 series deficit, it’s the Clippers. Earlier this spring, Los Angeles became the first team in NBA history to come back from 0-2 holes to win each of its first two playoff series, and the Clips are 2-0 SU and ATS in elimination games so far in the postseason. “Just focus on Monday’s game, that’s it,” coach Ty Lue told the Los Angeles Times. “Got to take it one game at a time, and that’s got to be our mindset.”

Unfortunately, the Clippers will have to do it without Kawhi Leonard, who won’t even make the flight to Phoenix as he continues to deal with a sprained right knee. Leonard’s prolonged absence continues to take a toll on Paul George, who is averaging more than 41 minutes through the first four games. George’s points, assists and rebounding numbers are all up without Kawhi at his side, but PG is shooting just 36% from the field and 28% from three-point range in the series.

George isn’t the only Clipper who is struggling from long range in the conference finals.
In fact, LA — which led the NBA this season in three-point percentage — nearly abandoned the three-point shot entirely in the second half of Game 4 after missing 18 of its 22 treys in the first half. The Clippers attempted just nine three-pointers in the second half on Saturday, focusing more on getting into the paint. The strategy worked in the third quarter, when LA scored 30 points to get back into the game, but dried up in the fourth when the Clips missed 15 of their last 17 shots.

Phoenix News & Notes

The Suns’ biggest challenge tonight might be containing their emotions as they look to clinch their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1993. “We’ve kept the same mindset the whole playoffs and the whole regular season… building this thing brick by brick, game by game. We’re not looking too far ahead,” Devin Booker told the Arizona Republic. “But we definitely understand that if we win the next one, we’re headed to the NBA Finals.”

Booker should be focused to get his shooting back on track after hitting just 30% of his field goal attempts over the last three games. Much of those issues might be due to the broken nose he suffered midway through Game 2 and the protective mask he’s worn since, although Booker took the mask off during Game 4 and might choose not to wear it at all tonight. Chris Paul is also searching for his shot since missing the first two games of the series due to COVID-19 protocols, shooting 27% from the field and 20% from three in the two games in LA.

Some stellar defense and a dominant series from Deandre Ayton have helped Phoenix overcome Booker and Paul’s shooting woes. Ayton pulled down a playoff career high 22 rebounds in Game 4 — including nine at the offensive end — and added four blocks to go with his 19 points, anchoring a Suns defense that has allowed 106 points or less in eight of its last 10 games.

Betting Pick: Clippers +5.5

Los Angeles has been within a basket in the final minute of each of its three losses in this series and shouldn’t go down without a fight.