The Phoenix Suns (49-33 last season) visit the Los Angeles Clippers (51-31) on NBA Wednesday, tipping off at 10 p.m. ET from Inglewood, California. The game is airing live on 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and streaming on YouTube TV and other streaming apps.
The Suns are 5-point favorites over the Clippers (+5) on the spread, with the over/under currently at 224.5 points. The Suns are -205 favorites on the moneyline to win outright, while the Clippers are +170 favorites to pull off the upset.
Let’s dive into my Suns vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, October, 23.
Suns vs. Clippers Prediction
My pick: Suns -5
I’m taking the improved Suns to comfortably defeat a scrambling Clippers squad that lacks Kawhi Leonard’s elite two-way production. James Harden will be tasked with carrying the offense here, but he won’t be able to drag Los Angeles to a cover. Phoenix possesses too much firepower and continuity.
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Suns vs. Clippers Odds
- Suns vs. Clippers spread: Suns -5
- Suns vs. Clippers over/under: 224.5 points
- Suns vs. Clippers moneyline: Suns -205, Clippers +170
- Suns vs. Clippers best bet: Suns -5
Spread
The Suns opened as slight favorites, but Leonard’s injury news propelled the line to its current state. It’s worth noting that Phoenix went 25-36-2 against the spread as favorites last season.
Moneyline
Phoenix’s moneyline has an implied probability of 65.7% based on the odds. Although I expect the Suns to prevail, that number is too juiced for me to bet.
Over/Under
The total sits at 224 total points. Both teams hit the under more frequently than the over last season.
My pick: Suns -4.5
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Suns vs. Clippers Start Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: |
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
|
| Date: | Wednesday, October 23 |
| Kickoff Time: | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN, ESPN+ / YouTube TV |
Clippers vs. Suns is scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET start time, live from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Wednesday. The game is live on ESPN, ESPN+ and is streaming on YouTubeTV.
Suns vs. Clippers NBA Preview
Phoenix Suns: An Offseason to Build On
Minnesota brutally swept Phoenix in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, but the Suns responded with a solid offseason.
They acquired Tyus Jones to bring organization, playmaking, and 3-point shooting to the offense. The former Wizards point guard rarely makes mistakes and consistently owns one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the league. His steady presence hopefully reduces the amount of “hero ball” and instead whips the bench into shape.
28th overall pick Ryan Dunn already looks like a steal. He entered the draft as one of the best defensive prospects in recent memory, but questions about his jump shot caused him to fall. Based on preseason action, those concerns look foolish. Dunn displayed a smooth stroke and went 13-for-30 on triples. If his offense is merely passable, then Phoenix picked up crucial wing depth.
Overall, the roster around their big three should be more cohesive and complementary. Defense remains a huge concern, but the offense may be so good that the Suns simply score their way to wins. They will be a formidable regular-season team, even if worries about how their defense survives in the playoffs are valid.
Los Angeles Clippers: Harden to Lead
The Clippers made decent additions this summer, like Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn, but they also lost All-Star Paul George for nothing and traded sixth man Russell Westbrook. Under no circumstance can Los Angeles view itself as an improved team. To make matters worse, Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely.
That places a tremendous burden on James Harden’s shoulders because he’s essentially the only above-average shot creator. Outside of him, the Clippers possess play-finishing role players who either knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers or score via cuts and post-ups. It’s not even a question of which offense is deadlier right now between Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Now, the Clippers do have a path to covering through their defense. Ivica Zubac is criminally underrated as a rim protector and anchor big. Dunn and Jones Jr. bring excellent perimeter defense to the table, and Terance Mann is a quality piece as well. If Los Angeles slows down the pace, forces Phoenix into their old isolation habits, and experiences some offensive 3-point shooting luck, then they could walk away with a cover or win.