The No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns host the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
The Suns haven’t lost with Kevin Durant on the floor, a perfect 8-0, and now will look to start a playoff run against a short handed Clippers team that won’t have Paul George for the entire series, but do have Kawhi Leonard available.
Sources: Clippers star Paul George is expected to be sidelined to begin the first-round playoff series against the Suns, but is making some tangible progress from his March 21 knee injury.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 10, 2023
Can the Suns stay hot into the postseason? Let’s check out the Game 1 preview and dish out a best bet:
Clippers vs. Suns odds, spread and total
Clippers vs. Suns prediction and pick
It’s a small sample, but the Suns are playing more than one possession slower per 100 possessions with Durant on the floor than when he is off, per PBPStats. I believe that the team will look to play even slower and in the half court during the postseason. The Clippers will likely oblige, team plays at the 19th fastest tempo in the league.
It’s tough to take too much from the regular season meetings between these two teams as the Suns are an incredibly different team while the Clippers have been battling changing lineups due to injury all season.
However, I find myself on the under. The Suns are bottom half of the league in three-point rate since acquiring Durant, it’s simply not part of the team’s shot profile now. Meanwhile, the Clippers aren’t far ahead at 13th in the league in three-point rate.
Phoenix’s defense is third in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions over the last two weeks, most of which include Durant on the floor. I believe the team’s defense and methodical tempo will lead to a low scoring Game 1.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.