Steve Starr
- Go to BetOnline or Bovada for the latest game odds, series prices and props for the Suns vs Clippers matchup
- Paul George is expected to miss the start of the first-round series with a knee injury
- TNT will broadcast Game 1 from Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, April 16 at 8:00pm ET
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard will go head-to-head in the sexiest first round matchup of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Oddsmakers have instilled the No. 4 seed Suns (45-37) as heavy favorites with Paul George expected to miss at least a few games for the No. 5 seed Clippers (44-36). But, can Los Angeles make it a series against an untested Phoenix team still rounding into shape?
Before we look at the series prices and props and make our picks, check out the latest 2023 NBA Playoff Betting Odds and our guide to betting on NBA basketball.
Suns vs Clippers Series Prices
| To Win Series |  |  |
| L.A. Clippers | +390 | +380 |
| Phoenix Suns | -550 | -470 |
Phoenix opens as heavy favorites
Phoenix (-470) is heavy chalk to win their first-round Western Conference battle with Los Angeles. The Pacific Division clubs split their season series 2-2, but that’s pretty much meaningless given Kevin Durant didn’t play in any of those contests. The 34-year-old only suited up in eight games for the Suns after being acquired from Brooklyn in a blockbuster deadline deal. However, Monty Williams’ squad is 8-0 with KD in the lineup.
Durant has been at peak form this year while healthy, averaging 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He and young guard Devin Booker give the Suns an excellent chance to advance to their second NBA Finals in three years, and win the franchise its first-ever championship.
Kevin Durant is the 1st 55-40-90 player in NBA history.
Durant 2022-23 | 56% FG | 40% 3P | 92% FT
Credit @StatsWilliams pic.twitter.com/SHmLvJnYFG
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 10, 2023
Number of Games in Series
| Number of Games | | |
| 5 Games | +230 | +260 |
| 6 Games | +250 | +220 |
| 7 Games | +270 | +270 |
| 4 Games | +310 | +300 |
Who’s the better team?
Oddsmakers expect this series to go five (+260) or six (+250) games. Suns-Clippers reaching a do or die Game 7 is also viewed as a possibility (+270) while a four-game sweep (+310) provides the longest odds. With Paul George missing in action, Kawhi Leonard will need to bring his ‘A’ game. ‘The Claw’ has been incredible in his first season back from an ACL tear, averaging 27.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals over his past 35 games.
Russell Westbrook will also need to be on his best behavior for Tyronn Lue’s club. The mercurial 34-year-old point guard was teammates with Durant for eight years in Oklahoma City. In the backcourt, he’ll square off against Chris Paul, who spent eight seasons running the Clippers offense.
Series Correct Score
| Series Correct Score | | |
| Phoenix Suns 4-1 | +240 | +240 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-2 | +340 | +400 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-0 | +375 | +325 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-3 | +390 | +385 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 | +1000 | +900 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-1 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-0 | +5000 | +5000 |
KD vs Kawhi
While this will mark the seventh time Leonard and Durant will meet in the NBA playoffs, the two superstars have rarely been healthy when facing off. Kawhi hurt his ankle in Game 1 of the Spurs’ 2017 conference finals loss to KD’s Warriors and missed their 2018 matchup with the same injury. And then when Leonard won the championship with Toronto the next year, Durant tore his Achilles during the NBA Finals.
KD otherwise holds a 2-1 edge over Kawhi, although those meetings happened quite some time ago.
The Klaw.
The Fun Guy.The Western Conference Player of the Week, Kawhi Leonard. pic.twitter.com/dYXiQTcwXu
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 10, 2023
Best Bet
Durant, the 13-time All Star, is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history while Leonard, the two-time NBA Finals MVP, provides an incredible mix of lockdown defense and clutch scoring.
Kawhi will carry his Clippers to a couple victories without PG-13, but it won’t be enough. Suns in six.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
