Suns vs Clippers Odds & Predictions (Dec. 15)
By Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Los Angeles Clippers are 1.5-point home favorites versus the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night
- Phoenix has lost five straight games
- Read below for the Suns vs Clippers odds and predictions
Nearly at full health, the Los Angeles Clippers (17-13, 9-6 home) are showing the promise of a team in the top five of the 2023 NBA Championship odds.
They’ll look for a season-best 4th-straight win when they host the freefalling Phoenix Suns (16-12, 4-9 away). It will be their second game of a back-to-back.
The Suns have lost five in a row and won’t be anywhere full health when they try to hold off the 7th-place Clippers, who are just a half-game behind them in the West standings.
It all gets underway Thursday (December 14) at 10:30pm ET from crypto.com Arena, in a game that can be seen live on NBA TV.
Suns vs Clippers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | +1.5 (-110) | +100 | Ov 217.5 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Clippers | -1.5 (-110) | -120 | Un 217.5 (-110) |
Odds as of Dec 15 at BetMGM. Claim the BetMGM promo code to bet on the Suns vs Clippers game.
The NBA odds have the Clippers as 1.5-point favorites, with a total set at 217.5.
Phoenix will be wrapping up a four-game road set with nothing but L’s so far. LA will be looking for its 10th home win. They’re one of three teams in the conference’s top 10 yet to crack that plateau.
Phoenix Betting Outlook
After losing both ends of a 2-game set to the West-leading New Orleans Pelicans, the Suns got scorched by last-place Houston Rockets 111-97.
The Suns trailed wire-to-wire, and it’s the third time during this skid they’ve lost by double digits. On a somewhat positive note, it was the first time in five games Phoenix held an opponent under 120 points.
Mikal Bridges led the team in scoring with 18 points, but shot just 4-for-24 from the field. Chris Paul only hit 5-for-17, finishing with 16 points, seven assists and six boards.
SENGUN COAST TO COAST LOB TO JALEN GREEN pic.twitter.com/5cFk1R7KmE
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) December 14, 2022
It was the second straight game they were without All-Star Devin Booker, who sat with a hamstring injury, and more regulars joined him before halftime.
Deandre Ayton exited early with an ankle injury, while Cam Payne left with a foot injury. Payne has already been listed as out Thursday, while Booker and Ayton are questionable.
They’re also down Cam Johnson (knee) who got injured on this road trip. Thursday’s NBA starting lineups show the Suns starting Landry Shamet, Torrey Craig, and Jock Landale in addition to Bridges and Paul.
Los Angeles Betting Outlook
A few nights after their best win of the season, a 113-93 thumping of the NBA-leading Boston Celtics, the Clips kept the good times rolling with a 99-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, their third straight win.
Kawhi Leonard, playing in just his 10th game this season, led the team in scoring, putting up 19 points, adding eight boards and couple of steals. He was one of six Clippers to crack double digits.
Paul George stuffed the stat sheet, dropping a 17-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double, while Luke Kennard came off the bench for 16 points, including a 4-for-7 mark from downtown.
Paul George (17 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST) and Kawhi Leonard (19 PTS, 8 REB, 2 STL) combined to lead the Clippers to victory tonight 💪
It was PG's first Clippers triple-double. pic.twitter.com/nTJvxhm9d3
— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2022
LA’s defense continues to power the operation, as they held the T-Wolves to 41.9% shooting from the field, including a dismal 4-for-22 mark from deep, a paltry 18.2% clip.
On the year, they rank fourth in scoring defense, holding opponents to 108.7 points per game. LA is fifth in field goal shooting defense, and teams are hitting just 34.3% from distance (6th).
Offensively, they’re tied with the Miami Heat as the lowest scoring team in the NBA at 107.9 points per game.
Suns vs Clippers Prediction
LA has gone 2-4 on the second game of a back-to-back this season, while they’re 3-3 against the spread.
This is the second of four games between the two teams this season with Phoenix rolling in the opener with a 112-95 home win. They’ve won three of the last four meetings.
Current play matters in this one though: the Clippers are 3-0 ATS in their last three, while Phoenix has failed to cover in any of their last five.
Assuming the Clips don’t rest Kawhi (it’s totally possible), they’ll have a full roster vs the road-weary Suns, who could be without three starters.
Pick:
- Clippers ML (-120)
- NBA Betting Record: 15-12 ATS, 1-0 ML, 2-3 o/u, 0-2 parlays; -0.92 units
Sports Writer & Editor
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
