Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers Game 3 Pick

When: 9 pm ET Thursday, June 24

Where: Staples Center

TV: ESPN

Point spread: Phx -1/LAC +1 (Get Reduced Juice NBA Betting >>> Why lat -110 odds when you could be risking only -105? It like receiving a bonus EVERY time you bet!)

Total: 221

After taking the first two games of this best-of-seven Western Conference finals at home, the Phoenix Suns shoot for a 3-0 series lead when the teams meet for Game 3 Thursday night in Los Angeles. Not only does Phoenix hold the upper hand on LA here, but it’s also apparently getting back guard Chris Paul, who missed Games 1 and 2 in quarantine. The Suns opened this series as -200 favorites to win it, with the Clippers getting +165 as the underdogs. Now, Phoenix is chalked at -795 on the updated series prices, with LA now getting +545. Here’s how we home-worked this Game 3 with our free NBA playoffs ATS pick.

NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

The NBA playoffs betting market opened Phoenix as a one-point road favorite for Thursday night’s game, with an over/under of right around 218.5. Early betting action then bumped that total 2.5 points to 221.

Suns-Clippers NBA Playoffs Betting Preview

Phoenix took Game 1 of this series Sunday 120-114, then won Game 2 Tuesday 104-103. Both games played close; the biggest lead either team held in Game 1 was eight points, while the biggest lead in Game 2 was nine points. In the end Tuesday night, LA’s Paul George missed two free throws with eight seconds left that would have given the Clippers a three-point lead. Then, with one second remaining, the Suns pulled off an in-bounds alley-oop play for a Deandre Ayton dunk and the win.

Phoenix shot 50 percent from the floor Tuesday, held Los Angeles to 45 percent FG shooting, and out-scored the Clippers in the paint 60-30.

The Suns shot 55 percent from the floor in winning Game 1.

Phoenix covered the Game 1 spread as a four-point favorite, but Los Angeles covered Game 2 as a 4.5-point underdog.

Also, Game 1 played over a total of 220 while Game 2 played under a total of 222.

With Tuesday’s win/non-cover, the Suns are now 10-2 SU, 9-3 ATS this postseason.

With Tuesday’s loss/cover, the Clippers are now 8-7 SU, 9-6 ATS this postseason.

Los Angeles also lost the first two games of its first two playoff series of this postseason, against Dallas and Utah, then rallied to win both those series. However, coming back to win this series will be a much tougher task.

On the personnel front, Phoenix G Chris Paul missed the first two games of this series serving “health protocol” time, but it looks like he’ll play Thursday night. Meanwhile, Los Angeles will again play without F Kawhi Leonard, who’s dealing with that torn knee. During the regular season, LA played 36-16 SU, 31-21 ATS with Leonard, 11-9 SU, 8-11 ATS without him, although it did win Games 5 and 6 in the semifinal round against the Jazz without him.

Phoenix finished four games ahead of Los Angeles in the regular-season standings, 51-21 to 47-25, but the Clippers took the season series two games to one. So on the season, the Suns are 3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS against the Clippers.

Suns-Clippers NBA Betting Trends

• The Suns are 4-1, both SU and ATS on the road this postseason.
• The Clippers are 4-3, both SU and ATS at home this postseason.

Totals Report

Unders are 7-4 in Suns games this postseason.

Overs are 8-7 in Clippers games this postseason.

Unders are 3-2 in Suns-Clippers games this season, which are averaging 217 total points against an average over/under of 220.

Free NBA Playoffs Pick

We backed Phoenix for both Games 1 and 2 of this series and see no reason to jump that ship here.
The Suns are simply better, especially now that Paul is back and Leonard is still out. Yes, Los Angeles has rallied in each of its two previous playoff series, but we just don’t see that happening here. We like Phoenix for our free NBA playoff pick for Thursday. Bet your NBA picks FREE this week by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $300 at MyBookie Sportsbook! (Must use bonus/promo code PREDICT100 to get the extra money credited to your wagering account.) Click HERE to sign up now!