Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers Prediction, 4/8/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers

Date: Thursday, April 8, 2021

Location: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Phoenix (+5)

The Phoenix Suns (35-14) head to STAPLES Center on Thursday where they'll meet the Los Angeles Clippers (34-18). Los Angeles opens this matchup as 5-point favorites. The over/under has been set at 225.

The Phoenix Suns played the Houston Rockets and notched a win by a score of 133-130 in their last game. Phoenix wrapped up the contest having earned a 51.2% field goal percentage (44 out of 86) and made 18 out of their 37 shots from 3-point land. At the free throw line, the Suns converted 27 of 31 attempts for a rate of 87.1%. When discussing grabbing boards, they compiled a total of 37 with 6 of them being offensive. They also recorded 29 assists for this game while forcing the other team into 18 turnovers and earning 11 steals. Pertaining to defense, Phoenix allowed 54.4% from the floor on 43 of 79 shooting. Houston recorded 28 dimes and had 6 steals for this game. On top of that, Houston grabbed 38 rebounds (5 offensive, 33 defensive) and earned 3 blocks. Houston ended up going 81.8% from the charity stripe by converting 27 of their 33 attempts. They also buried 17 of 33 attempts from distance.

Devin Booker is someone who was a major contributor in this matchup. He scored 36 points on 11 of 20 shooting. He was on the court for 35:34 mins played and also grabbed 6 rebounds. Booker shot 55.0% from the floor and dished out 6 assists. An additional guy that was a determining factor in the game for the Suns was Deandre Ayton. He snagged 11 rebounds in his 33:28 min on the court. He finished shooting 71.4% from the floor for this contest by going 10-of-14 (27 points). At the conclusion of this game, Ayton collected 1 assist.

Phoenix will enter this contest with a mark of 35-14 on the campaign. They average 114.6 points per game (9th in basketball) while hitting 49.0% from the field. The Suns are shooting 37.9% on shots from distance (638 of 1,683) and 83.2% from the charity stripe. As a team, Phoenix is grabbing 43.3 rebounds per game and has 1,336 assists so far this season, which is 4th in basketball in terms of passing. They turn it over 13.0 times per contest and as a team they commit 19.5 fouls per contest. On the defensive end of the court, the Suns are able to force 13.3 turnovers per game while drawing 18.1 personal fouls. They are conceding 34.7% on 3-pointers and they are 5th in basketball in PPG allowed (107.7). The Suns defensively are giving up a shooting percentage of 45.6% (1,940 of 4,256) and they concede 43.1 boards per game as a unit. They rank 1st in the NBA in giving up assists to the opposition with 1,077 conceded this year.

In their last game, the Los Angeles Clippers walked away with a victory by a final of 133-116 against the Portland Blazers. The Clippers were able to snag 40 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds totaling 48 in this contest. They also coughed up the ball 7 times, while earning 5 steals for this game. The Blazers had 22 fouls in this game which took the Clippers to the charity stripe for 30 tries. They were able to convert 25 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 83.3%. Concerning shooting from beyond the arc, Los Angeles made 16 out of their 41 attempts (39.0%). When the final whistle blew, the Clippers ended up shooting 46 for 89 from the floor which had them shooting 51.7%. The Clippers permitted the Blazers to convert 37 of their 92 tries from the floor which had them at 40.2% in this contest. They finished 30.6% from behind the 3-point line by going 11 out of 36 and finished the game at 31 out of 37 from the free throw line (83.8%). In reference to rebounding, Los Angeles permitted Portland to snag 48 in all (14 on the offensive glass).

Paul George ended up being important for the Clippers in this game. He made 11 of 18 for this game giving him a rate of 61.1%, and totaled 3 rebounds. George tallied 36 points in his 34:00 mins on the court and accounted for 5 assists in this matchup. One more player that was important for Los Angeles was Kawhi Leonard. He ended up finishing with 7 assists in 36:15 mins on the hardwood, and he knocked down 10 of 18 from the floor. Leonard wrapped this one up going 55.6% from the field in addition to collecting 29 points and 12 boards.

Los Angeles has a record of 34-18 so far this season. The Clippers have committed 19.3 fouls every game while shooting 84.0% from the charity stripe. They are assisting teammates 24.0 times per game (20th in basketball) and they turn it over 12.9 times per contest. Los Angeles has accumulated 5,961 pts on the campaign (114.6 per contest) and they pull in 44.5 rebounds per contest. When it comes to executing on offense, the Clippers are shooting 48.2% from the floor, which is 7th in basketball. The Clippers defensively are ranked 6th in basketball in points given up per game with 108.1. They are able to force 12.9 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 46.6% from the floor (14th in the league). The Los Angeles defense concedes 36.3% on three-point shots (597 of 1,645) and their opponents are connecting on 78.4% of their shots from the free throw line. They have given up 22.8 assists and 41.2 boards per game, which has them ranked 4th and 3rd in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Los Angeles (-5)

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