Clippers vs. Suns Odds, Picks, Predictions: Can Deandre Ayton Continue Heater for Phoenix?

The Los Angeles Clippers have made changes to their bench lineup after a busy deadline and will face the Phoenix Suns on TNT Thursday. The Suns are still waiting for Kevin Durant to make his debut. Check out our top picks for the Clippers vs. Suns game based on the latest NBA odds.

The Clippers are close to having a fully healthy roster, with only Norman Powell listed as out for the upcoming game. It’s worth mentioning that head coach Ty Lue has hinted at reducing the minutes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard until the All-Star break this weekend. George and Leonard have been playing around 30 to 35 minutes in the last three games.

The Phoenix Suns made a significant trade to acquire future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant, but he is not yet ready to play his first game with the team. Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet will also be unavailable on Thursday. However, the return of Devin Booker, even with limited minutes, promises an exciting matchup for Thursday’s game.

This is our top pick for the Clippers vs. Suns NBA game, with odds from PointsBet and a confidence rating on a 1-to-5-star scale.

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Clippers vs. Suns pick

Deandre Ayton Under 21.5 points (-120 via PointsBet) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The ex-top draft pick has exceeded this mark for five consecutive games, averaging 24.7 points per game since the trades of Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges. However, his upcoming game against the Clippers on Thursday is expected to be his toughest challenge yet.

The Clippers’ near full health is a positive development for their defense, especially their ability to protect the basket against players like Ayton who score frequently from close range. Ayton has taken 77.8% of his shots this season from the restricted area or the paint.

Since the beginning of the year, the Clippers have been strong defensively, ranking 11th in fewest field goals allowed per game in the restricted area and 15th in fewest field goals allowed per game in the paint. Adding Mason Plumlee’s presence near the rim should bolster this effort, particularly against Ayton, who is not known for his shot creation.

Ayton has remained below this threshold in:

• Eight of his 16 games this season with Chris Paul and Devin Booker both playing
• Each of his last four games against the Clippers
• All three of his games since 2021 when facing Plumlee

Adding further context, a significant 28.3% of Ayton’s field goals during this season have been assisted by either Mikal Bridges (who has been traded), Cameron Payne (who has been ruled out), or Landry Shamet (who has also been ruled out). Bridges and Payne, who rank second and third on the Suns this season in assists, have played a crucial role in setting up Ayton for scoring opportunities as the starting center.

Since Powell is already out, and Leonard and George are apparently still being load-managed, the Clippers’ perimeter defense may struggle, making it easier for guards like Paul and Booker to score, but not necessarily Ayton.

Clippers vs. Suns best odds

PointsBet (-120)

We are currently seeing a line of 20.5 points for Ayton on Thursday, and I am willing to pay the small juice for the extra point, which is available on PointsBet.

I rate this play as a four-star pick at 21.5, so I usually bet one unit on it. If you can only find the line at 20.5, I would still bet on it but with slightly less confidence, placing a 0.75 unit wager. If the line drops to 19.5 later in the day, I would consider it a three-star play and bet 0.50 units on it.

Clippers vs. Suns odds

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Clippers vs. Suns odds analysis

The Suns are holding the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, while the Clippers are right behind them at No. 5. The spread for Thursday’s game has the Suns favored by 1 point, with over 60% of the public betting on Phoenix. Both teams are competing for seeding in the conference.

The Clippers recently completed a homestand with a record of one win and two losses. This season, their performance against the spread has been mediocre, with an overall record of 30-30 ATS, 17-15 ATS on the road, and 12-16 ATS after a loss.

Since Booker’s return, the Suns have won two consecutive games, dominating the struggling Indiana Pacers and the faltering Sacramento Kings. This season, they have a 32-27 record against the spread, with a 15-16 ATS record after a win, and a 17-12 ATS record at home.

The total for this game has experienced some line movement, possibly as a result of sharp betting. Despite over 70% of public bets being placed on the Over after opening at 223.5, the line has either stayed the same or dropped to 222.5 at sportsbooks.

Clippers vs. Suns game info

• Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 10 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT
• Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

The Clippers-Suns selection was finalized on February 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

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