Steve Starr
- Go to BetOnline or Bovada for the latest odds on the Suns vs Clippers contest
- Devin Booker is averaging 34.8 points per game in the first-round of the NBA playoffs
- TNT airs Game 5 from the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Tuesday, April 25 at 10:00pm ET
Once viewed as the crown jewel of the first round, the Suns-Clippers matchup has turned into an ultra-disappointing and uncompetitive affair. With Los Angeles missing both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Phoenix has raced out to a 3-1 series lead.
Will Kevin Durant and Devin Booker punch their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night? Before we look at the Game 5 line, check out the latest 2023 NBA Playoff Betting Odds and our guide to betting on NBA basketball.
Suns vs Clippers – Game 5
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| LA Clippers | +11.5 (-110) | +550 | Ov 224 (-110) |
| Phoenix Suns | -11.5 (-110) | -750 | Un 224 (-110) |
Phoenix’s big three
Despite only playing together for a few games following the trade deadline, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have shown instant on-court chemistry in the first round. KD is averaging 27.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists while playing 44 minutes a night versus. And Devin Booker has put up 34.8 points per contest with 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals.
At age 37, Chris Paul is also playing solid basketball as he seeks his first-career NBA title. In four playoff games, the Suns’ point guard is averaging 13.3 points, 8.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds with only 1.3 turnovers per game. Phoenix has lost only once since acquiring Durant (Game 1 vs LAC) and looks primed and ready for a second-round battle with the West’s No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets.
Kevin Durant on Westbrook:
"When he retires, people are gonna tell the truth about how they feel about his game. Right now, [they] make a joke out of Russ."
Chris Paul:
"I feel like the only people to do that is the people who don't know basketball."pic.twitter.com/7EuCCoVgg2
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 22, 2023
Sad times for the Clippers
Poor Steve Ballmer. The bald billionaire owner is headed for another early playoff exit. Since the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a boatload of first-round picks to the Thunder for Paul George, he and Kawhi Leonard have shared the same court in only 24 of a possible 36 postseason contests.
Leonard has missed the past two games with knee swelling and isn’t coming back anytime soon. ‘The Claw’ was also out all of last season after exiting the 2021 playoffs with a knee ailment. That leaves Russell Westbrook to hold down the fort by himself. Russ finished with a game-high 37 points in a 112-100 Game 4 loss to Phoenix on Saturday.
Phoenix vs Los Angeles
Phoenix is a massive 11.5-point home favorite on Tuesday night. The Suns were 29-14 in the Footprint Center during the regular season, covering in 54.8% of games. Meanwhile, the Clippers were a solid 22-21 straight up and against the spread on the road. Ty Lue always gets his team to play hard, but stealing a game in the desert will be a herculean task for his shorthanded roster.
Game 5’s total is set at 224 points. That over/under has been eclipsed in three of the series’ four games so far, with Game 4 being the lone exception. While they’ll be without their top two scorers, LAC hit the OVER in 64.3% of road contests in 2022-23.
Kevin Durant today:
31 PTS – 11 REB – 6 AST – 53% FG – 75% 3PDevin Booker today:
30 PTS – 9 REB – 7 AST – 3 STL – 50% 3PChris Paul today:
19 PTS – 4 REB – 9 AST – 3 BLK – 3 STL – 50% 3P🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/rGBWDhi5IL
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 22, 2023
Best Bet
Oddsmakers have the Suns (-750) as a stone cold lock in Game 5 with LA at +550 to score the upset. Phoenix had 5-point and 12-point margins of victory in Games 3 and 4 on the road against a Clippers team missing their two superstars.
Needing to get some rest in before the second round begins, Monty Williams’ squad should take care of business in Tuesday’s elimination game. Take Phoenix to cover the 11.5-points and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
