Time to run it right back.
The Los Angeles Clippers host the Phoenix Suns in an immediate rematch at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night. The Clippers aim to avenge the double-digit loss they endured in Phoenix just two days ago.
Saturday night marks the third time these teams have met in the early stages of the season, with the Clippers crushing the Suns by 27 points in their home opener on Oct. 24.
Neither team is where it wants to be in the greater context of the season. The Clippers have lost three straight games, dropping them to a measly 3-5 — good for 11th in the Western Conference. The Suns aren’t much better at 4-5 and 9th in the West, though they’ve won three of their last four games.
Looking at the injury report, Kawhi Leonard (ankle), Kobe Sanders (knee), and Jordan Miller (hamstring) are sidelined for LA.
Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. The Clippers enter as a 4.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Suns are listed as +145 underdogs. The game’s total is set at 225.5 points.
Suns vs. Clippers Preview
The Suns erupted in the third quarter of Thursday night’s contest, outscoring the Clippers 40-23 to take a commanding 17-point lead. They never looked back and won 115-102. Jalen Green poured in 29 points (10-for-20 FG, 6-for-13 3PT) in his Phoenix debut, previously sidelined with a hamstring strain. Devin Booker scored 24, and Mark Williams added 13 points with nine rebounds.
Ivica Zubac led the understaffed Clippers with 23 points and 11 rebounds on Thursday. He’ll get some help tonight, as James Harden returns to the lineup after missing the last game due to personal reasons.
On the season, both squads are in relatively similar positions — albeit not ideal ones. The Suns rank 20th in offensive, defensive, and net rating. The Clippers, meanwhile, rank 21st in offense, 26th in defense, and 23rd in net. Both generate plenty of steals but are also sloppy with the ball, themselves, ranking in the bottom six of the league in turnovers.
Suns vs. Clippers Pick, Best Bet
Phoenix’s offense looked completely rejuvenated with Jalen Green in it. Even with Harden back in the fold, I’m counting on the Suns to keep the momentum rolling against a team they beat handily just two nights ago.
