Free Picks: Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Phoenix Suns come into this matchup with the Clippers on an impressive four-game winning streak, the longest active such streak in the league. Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ second team has lost two of their past four games, yet still somehow find themselves as the slight favorites for this contest in the desert. Now could be the perfect time to hop on the Suns bandwagon—right before oddsmakers realize just how good this team really is.

Despite all of their struggles in recent years, the Suns are looking like real Western Conference contenders to start the season for the first time in 15 years. And they’ve had the Clippers’ number lately, winning two of the past four meetings between these squads, including the legendary Booker buzzer-beater over Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the bubble during last season’s Seeding Games, where Phoenix went 8-0 overall and still missed the playoffs.

They’re back and better than ever this season, however. We know what they’ve got in Booker and big man DeAndre Ayton—two studs, one each in the front and back courts—but they’re getting some truly impressive three-and-d hooping from swingman Mikal Bridges and second-year man Cam Johnson is proving why he was worth the 11th overall pick last season, playing some of the most efficient basketball in the league off the bench. Not to mention the best floor general in the NBA, Chris Paul, is doing his usual Chris Paul thing: instantly giving his new squad a tangible boost.

The Clippers, meanwhile, are still trying to find a way to get all of their pieces to mesh together, as evidenced by new addition Serge Ibaka nearly taking Kawhi’s jaw off during a routine play last week. They strapped Leonard up with the Hannibal Lecter mask and he was all ready to get back into the action on Friday, putting up a solid all-around game in his return, though it came in a 106-100 loss to the Utah Jazz.

I believe that with the shrewd leadership of Paul, the overflowing talents of Ayton and Booker, and a few guys like Bridges and Johnson stepping up, this young Phoenix team could make some real noise in the playoffs this season. And it’s clear that they’re better than many thought they would be, going 5-1 ATS so far this season. More specifically, the Suns are 2-0 ATS and straight up when they’re listed as the underdog, as they are for this matchup with the Clippers, with the Phoenix moneyline offering +102 odds on 22Bet.

Not only do the trends favor the Suns, but the roster makeups of these two teams do too. The Clippers have no one that can guard Ayton in the paint or the pick and roll, and you can expect Paul to have a good time with that mismatch throughout the game.

Not to mention that the improved play of Bridges and Johnson on the wings could be a decent tactic to employ to slow down L.A.’s dynamic duo of George and Leonard. You won’t see Phoenix getting plus odds on their moneyline very often as the season wears on, so we’re hopping on it here as the Suns look to continue this scorching stretch.

• Phoenix is 5-1 ATS this season
• Phoenix is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games
• L.A. has gone 3-2 ATS as favorites this season
• Phoenix is 2-0 ATS & SU as the underdog this season