Suns vs Clippers Game 5 Predictions: Close It Out at Home

• The Suns have won three straight games and lead the series 3-1
• Kawhi Leonard did not play in Game Three or Game Four because of a sprained knee
• Phoenix has been unstoppable scoring out of isolation

The Phoenix Suns have an opportunity to close the Los Angeles Clippers out on their home court when they meet for Game Five Tuesday.

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Suns vs Clippers Game Five Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook.

What Happened in Game Four?

The Clippers put up yet another valiant effort down their two best players against the Western Conference favorites but were defeated 112-100, bringing the series count to 3-1 heading back to the desert. The Clippers still cannot figure out how to defend against the Suns in isolation, even if they have shut off other facets of the offense.

Russell Westbrook was on a rampage once again as his once-questionable signing now looks like the steal of the season. It’s frustrating to picture what this tense and hard-fought series would look like if Paul George had appeared and if Leonard had not sprained his knee, though neither has been fully ruled out from returning in this series.

One area that Suns excelled in during Game Four was rebounding. They secured 16 more boards (49 to 33) than the Clippers did, including an extra five on the offensive end (14 to nine). Underdogs cannot afford to give up second-chance opportunities, and that’s exactly what the Clippers did en route to their third straight loss. 

Key Stats from Game Four 

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant were both on their A-Game in Game Four. Durant finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Booker had 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul were both also great as the Suns’ starting lineup continues to do all of the heavy lifting and then some.

Westbrook was the standout for the Clippers by a wide margin. He racked up 37 points on 17-29 shooting (3-6 3PT) to go with six rebounds and four assists. Nobody else on LA scored more than 14 points, and the team combined to shoot 12-37 from three (32.4%) from beyond the arc. The bench outscored the Suns’ as per usual but only pitched in with 26 extra points, which isn’t enough to consistently pick up wins.

Suns vs Clippers Game Five Preview

The Clippers and coach Tyronn Lue have done everything they can to stifle the Suns but to no avail. Their big roll of the dice last game was inserting Marcus Morris Sr., who did not play in the first two games, into the starting lineup to give them greater versatility on the defensive end. Nicolas Batum was the sacrificial lamb and played only six minutes off the bench.

The gamble did not work, and Morris had a game-worst -19 in 25 minutes of action. Neither Morris nor Batum has had any success slowing down their primary covers, so Robert Covington may get his chance to crack the starting lineup, or at least play more minutes. One of them has to come up strong for the Clippers to win because they have no other viable and active options at forward.

The Suns would love to have the game wrapped up early and get their stars some rest. Booker, Durant, and Paul are averaging 42.2 minutes per game combined and are eating up an extremely large chunk of their energy reserve for a first-round matchup. They seem resigned to the fact that they will have to score from isolation and will make that a priority in Game Five.

How Do the Suns Win?

The Suns can win Game Five in a variety of ways. Last time out, they ditched their usual approach of barely getting to the free-throw line and took 27 attempts to just 10 for the Clippers. They have also proven they can consistently beat solo defenders, which gives them the freedom to dial up their number whenever they want.

How Do the Clippers Win?

The Clippers have had very little success playing their bigs without Leonard and George in the lineup. They need to find a way to balance playing Ivica Zubac or Mason Plumlee against Ayton without compromising their pick-and-roll defense and also need to get one-on-one stops when they aren’t on the court. They also need to get at least 30 or 40 points from their bench. 

Suns vs Clippers Game Five Pick

The Clippers have truly given the Suns everything they can handle and deserve tremendous praise for their spirit and relentlessness. The 12-point line is extremely large but is a testament to how efficient Phoenix’s offense has been. There is validity to both sides of the line, but the strongest play is the Suns’ spread.

How to Watch Suns vs Clippers Game Five

• Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
• When: 10:00 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 25
• TV: TNT
• Streaming: YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling, etc.