Clippers vs Phoenix: Californians deserve Game 7

The Clippers certainly didn’t deserve to lose the series at the end of five games, so their away win the day before yesterday looks quite logical. LAC brought the clash home, but they still can’t afford to lose. Will the Californians manage to outplay Chris Paul and his Suns again? Let’s pick a few bets at once for matchday 6 of the series. 

Tyronn Lue’s team, even though it’s still one step away from relegation, has looked very confident in the series against the Suns. The Clippers, for example, barely made it to game two when Phoenix centre DeAndre Ayton slammed the winning basket 0.9 seconds before the final buzzer. Or, after allowing just 84 points in Game 4, they completely failed on offence and lost 80-84. That said, the LAC brought the Suns more than a 10-point difference both times in winning games. They have +14 in games 3 and 5.

In the previous meeting, where the Clippers needed to win at all costs, Paul George proved to be the real leader. George scored 41 points and made 15-of-20 from the field. Reggie Jackson added 23 points; Marcus Morris finally had 22. Also, Tyronn Lue had an extremely good game for DeMarcus Cousins. The veteran centre scored 15 points in 11 minutes. Defensive lapses prevented Cousins from being used for big minutes, so the numbers in Game 5 are just perfect. Overall, the potential is incredible. It would be no surprise to see them eventually manage a comeback.

Devin Booker was the only other offensive threat besides Chris Paul. The star guard scored 31 points and only hit 9 of his 22 attempts. Booker became more difficult to shoot effectively after he got his face mask on. Paul scored 22 points, made 8 assists on just 2 losses, but it was mostly Booker who assisted.

There was no one else for Phoenix to score. Cameron Johnson scored 14 points and only 10 for Ayton, although it would seem that Ivica Zubac’s injury gives the Suns’ main big manoeuvring room. Coach Monty Williams will have to rack his brains to prevent the Clippers from picking up the next two games as well. Do the Suns even argue other than the genius of Chris Paul and the experience of Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne?

The Clippers could have closed out the series by now if Paul George had hit free throws at the end of game two, or if the team had improved their conversion rate in Game 4, where only 80 points were scored, although only 84 were conceded. Whatever you say, the Clippers deserved their seventh game. Phoenix can only be helped by the genius of the point guard.

We predict that the Suns, thanks to Paul, can win, but most likely in the seventh game. In addition, the Suns are unlikely to score much again. The Clippers' phenomenal defence is doing a great job in this series as well.

• Phoenix’s Individual Total Under 107.5 for 1.90;
• Clippers to win for 1.98;
• Total Under 215.5 for 1.83.