10:00 PM EST, TNT – Line: Suns -8, Over/Under: 227
The NBA Playoffs are here and one of the most intriguing series took a stunning turn over the weekend, as the Los Angeles Clippers look to take a commanding 2-0 lead after stealing Game One from the Phoenix Suns, who suffered their first defeat with Kevin Durant on the hardwood. Coming into this postseason, the Clippers (44-38, 5th in Western Conference) were thought to have landed an unenviable matchup, as they were pitted against the new-look Suns, and while there is plenty of basketball left to play in this series, it’s clear that this team is not fretting over their opponent. Of course, the table was set prior to the start of the playoffs, as Los Angeles was once again dealt some unfortunate news as (All-Star Guard) Paul George suffered a sprained right knee about two weeks ago and was eventually ruled out of the entirety of this first-round affair. Needless to say, this has been a bit of a theme for a franchise that ever since teaming the talents of George and (fellow All-Star) Kawhi Leonard four years ago, has rarely been afforded a playoff run in which both players enjoyed good health. After crashing out of the postseason in spectacular fashion during their first venture together, Leonard (pictured above) exited next season’s playoff run prematurely due to an ACL tear that would keep him out of the following year’s ousting in the play-in tournament. Now, with the two-time Finals MVP operating at 100% fitness, it is George who is sidelined, fanning the flames of anxiety for the fan base. However, despite being without one of the best two-way wings in the Association, the gap between them and their opponent doesn’t appear to be nearly as wide as we were all led to believe, as (Head Coach) Ty Lue’s troops left Footprint Center with a stunning 115-110 victory, taking homecourt away from their opponent in the process. So, how did they do it, you ask? Well, first and foremost, Leonard was vintage Playoff Kawhi, totaling thirty-eight points on an efficient 13-of-24 shooting (54.2%), including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc (60.0%) and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe (90.0%), along with five rebounds and assists apiece. The 31-year-old also did a tremendous job of defending the aforementioned Durant (much more on him shortly), particularly in the fourth quarter where his length and strength forced the perennial MVP candidate into some awkward midrange shots. With George out of action, the need for the supporting cast to step up was essential to victory, and Lue was happy to see a number of his charges make an impact; (former MVP) Russell Westbrook may have shot a miserable 3-of-19 from the field (15.8%), but he made up for it other areas, with eleven rebounds, eight assists, a pair of steals, and three blocks, including a HUGE swat of Devin Booker in the waning moments of the game. Furthermore, (Veteran Shooting Guard) Eric Gordon added nineteen points, while (young Center) Ivica Zubac totaled twelve points and fifteen rebounds, with the platoon of Terance Mann and Norman Powell combining for twenty-four more points off the bench. With that said, the key to this victory was Los Angeles’ ability to create a plethora of extra opportunities for themselves via the offensive glass, where they held a significant 15-6 advantage, ultimately leading to eleven more field goal attempts. This is where Westbrook and Zubac REALLY made an impact, with the duo accounting for NINE of the visitors’ offensive boards. From a betting perspective, the Clippers are 41-42 against the spread this season, and are 5-5 in that regard over their last ten games regardless of the venue. With that said, they’ve covered six of their last ten meetings with the Suns in which they’ve been on the road and an underdog. Furthermore, the first round of the playoffs has been kind to them from this perspective, posting a 5-1 record against the spread in their last six such contests.
Meanwhile, after Sunday night’s opening loss, it appears that the honeymoon is officially over and now we’re going to see just what these new-look Suns (45-37, 4th in Western Conference) have to offer. Coming into the playoffs, Phoenix had yet to meet defeat with (13-time All-Star) Kevin Durant in the rotation, winning all eight of said games in which he was healthy enough to participate in. Furthermore, lineups that featured both Durant (pictured above) and (fellow All-Star) Devin Booker featured the best point differential in the NBA at +18.4, while ranking in the ninety-eighth percentile in points per 100 possessions (124.7). Needless to say, his acquisition prior to the trade deadline has had the desired effect on a team that had been running on fumes since their shocking premature ousting in last year’s playoffs, breathing new life into a rotation that needed another shot creator, while fitting in seamlessly within an offensive attack dominated by midrange shooting and pick-and-roll action. However, it’s clear that there is still work to be done as (Head Coach) Monty Williams’ troops met a wealth of resistance in the form of the Clippers, who were more than formidable even without the services of the aforementioned George. So, what in the name of Cotton Fitzsimmons happened in Game One, you ask? Well, first and foremost, the Suns were taken aback by the waves of defenders that were thrown at Durant, who got off to a slow start, with zero points on 0-of-4 shooting in the first quarter in which the hosts were outscored 18-30. Granted, the two-time Finals MVP began to heat up in the second period, scoring seventeen points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting (66.7%), though would go on to produce a scoreless third stanza before posting ten in the fourth. Despite nearly racking up a triple-double (27 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists), it never really felt like a dominating performance from KD, who at times found the going particularly tough as Los Angeles consistently shifted defenders on him. Much of this series has been billed as Durant versus Leonard, and while that matchup is certainly box office material, the likes of Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, and Terance Mann all funneled his way with varying degrees of success. Apart from Durant, the aforementioned Booker finished with twenty-six points on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%), with three assists and four steals, while (journeyman wing) Torrey Craig erupted for a postseason career-high twenty-two points on 9-of-12 shooting (75.0%). (Former number one overall pick) Deandre Ayton finished with eighteen points and eight rebounds, while (veteran Point Guard) Chris Paul may have struggled with just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting (25.0%) but helped offset that meager scoring output with eleven rebounds, ten assists and a pair of steals. We touched upon their struggles on the glass that led to so many second-chance opportunities for the Clippers, but the Suns did thrive in speeding the game up, forcing fourteen turnovers that they manufactured into fifteen points. Furthermore, Williams’ charges also outscored Los Angeles 25-12 in fast break points. However, they’ll need to find some more production from their bench, which could muster just ten points, as (veteran Shooting Guard) Landry Shamet was the only reserve to log over eight minutes as Williams leaned HEAVILY on his starting five, particularly Durant and Booker who played over forty minutes apiece. From a betting perspective, the Suns finished the season 43-39-1 against the spread, while covering six of their last ten outings regardless of the venue. Phoenix is 4-6 against the spread over their last ten games at Footprint Center, while covering the line in six of their last ten meetings with Los Angeles. On the injury front, Williams would be happy to get (backup Point Guard) Cameron Payne back in the rotation, with the 28-year-old nursing soreness in his lower back, leaving him questionable for tonight’s Game Two.