NBA Betting: Clippers Desperate For A Win
The Los Angeles Clippers face a must-win game Thursday night if they want to avoid a three-game deficit in the Western Conference final against the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix took a 2-0 series lead Tuesday night by edging the Clippers 104-103 as a 4.5-point home favorite. Deandre Ayton sealed the victory with an ally-oop slam with 0.7 seconds remaining to give Phoenix the win. Ayton finished the night with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Cameron Payne netted a team-high 29 points to go with nine assists. Paul George led the Clippers with 26 points.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard missed Game 2 with a knee injury that may keep him out the entire series. Suns point guard Chris Paul has missed the first two games of the series while in COVID-19 protocol but there is a chance he could be activated in time for Game 3.
Suns still favored as series shifts to Hollywood
The series heads to Los Angeles for the third game but the Suns remain the favorites, listed as 1-point road chalk at Bovada Sportsbook. With the win in Game 2, the Suns have won nine straight, although their eight-game winning streak against the spread was snapped when they failed to cover on Tuesday night.
On the road, Phoenix is 6-1 straight up and 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven, and as a road favorite, it has won three straight at 2-0-1 ATS. One interesting trend for totals bettors: when listed as a road favorite, the Suns have posted eight straight OVERs.
Following back-to-back losses to begin the series, the Clippers are now 8-7 SU and 9-5-1 ATS during their playoff run. In their last six games, they’ve been a solid pick at 5-1 ATS.
Clippers have been strong as home underdogs
The Clippers will hope that returning home will get them back in the series as they’ve won four in a row SU and ATS at the Staples Center. Los Angeles has also been strong as a home underdog with three straight wins SU and ATS, and a 5-2 SU record and 6-1 ATS mark in its last seven as a home dog.
With the Suns up 2-0, the series odds at Bovada are heavily tilted their way. Phoenix is a -850 favorite to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. The Clippers are +525 underdogs to win the series.