The stars will be on full display Thursday night in a Western Conference showdown as Paul George, and the Los Angeles Clippers (32-28) take on Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns (32-27). The Suns will host this one at the Footprint Center, with tipoff scheduled for 10:00 pm ET.
The Suns are the slight favorites playing at home. They are -118 to win, while the Clippers’ moneyline sits at +100. The spread features Los Angeles as 1.5-point underdogs (-106), and the over/under for total points is 224.
Clippers Trying To Leapfrog Suns In The West
At 32-28, the Los Angeles Clippers currently sit in fifth in the Western Conference, nine games behind the Denver Nuggets. Right ahead of them in the standings by just a half-game are the Suns, and a win on Thursday would leapfrog them in the standings to fourth overall.
The Clippers offensively this season. They rank just 27th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 111.4 points per game. They have been better on the road, though, averaging 114.
Leading the way for the Clippers are forwards Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. For George, he is averaging 23.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Not to be outdone, Leonard is averaging 22.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and four assists per game.
While they struggle with consistency on offense, the Clippers have been elite on defense. They rank fourth in the league in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 111.2 points per game (114.9 on the road).
Suns Look To Sweep Season Series
This will be the third time that these two teams have squared off this season, with the Suns having taken the first two matchups. Looking to stay undefeated against Los Angeles, they will look to take advantage of playing on their home court, as they are 20-9 at the Footprint Center.
Like Los Angeles, the Suns are solid on defense. They rank fifth overall, allowing opponents just 111.2 points per game (109.1 at home).
Offensively, the Suns rank 22nd overall, averaging 112.8 points per game. They are led by shooting guard Devin Booker, who is averaging 26.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
While trade deadline acquisition Kevin Durant is still out, the Suns have other significant contributors in Deandre Ayton (18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds) and Chris Paul (13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, nine assists).
Take Phoenix To Win At Home
This should be a fun game as these two are so similar to one another. Neither team is especially explosive on offense, but they both get after it on the defensive end.
Both teams have also been playing pretty well as of late, with the Clippers having gone 6-4 in their last 10, while the Suns have gone 7-3.
In their last 12 games, the Clippers are 8-4 against the spread. For the Suns, they are 10-4 against the spread in their last 14.
The Suns will lack some depth with Durant (knee), Cameron Payne (foot), and Landry Shamet (foot) out, but they will also have the advantage of playing on their home court.
With so much commonality, this one could come down to just a possession or two. Playing at home, it is hard not to give the Suns the edge in this one. Take Phoenix to win straight up (-118).
