The Phoenix Suns (46-33, 7th in Western Conference) travel to play the Los Angeles Clippers (51-28, 4th in Western Conference) in their second-straight meeting in as many days.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Clippers handedly defeated the Suns last night 105-92 in Phoenix’s final regular season home game to improve to 3-0 against them this season. Los Angeles was once up 35-4 in the first quarter. They led by as much as 37 in the first half even without Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Phoenix dropped back to a play-in spot, the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference after last night’s loss, one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans (47-32), who they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over.
The Clippers are pretty much locked into the fourth seed, as they are two games ahead of the Dallas Mavericks (49-30), who they have the head-to-head tiebreaker over with only three games left.
Now, L.A. could potentially only have Terance Mann and Norman Powell out of its top-7 rotation players.
Additionally, Russell Westbrook (left hand contusion) and Ivica Zubac (left ankle inflammation) are questionable for Los Angeles (51-28).
Meanwhile, for the Suns, only Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) is listed as out, as he has been all season. No one else is even probable or questionable.
This means Jusuf Nurkić is set to return after missing last night’s game with a right ankle sprain. Phoenix dropped to 1-5 on the season when Nurkić doesn’t play last night.
Local Game Information
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. MST
Location: Crypto.com Arena
TV Channel: AZ Family/3TV
Radio:Â Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream:Â Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 10, 2024
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -11.5
O/U:Â 218.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Los Angeles Clippers: Paul George (left knee soreness) OUT | Kawhi Leonard (right knee inflammation) OUT |Â James Harden (right foot inflammation) OUT | Russell Westbrook (left hand contusion) QUESTIONABLE | Ivica Zubac (left ankle inflammation) QUESTIONABLE | Joshua Primo (left ankle sprain) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Los Angeles Clippers: Russell Westbrook/Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, Norman Powell, Amir Coffey, Ivica Zubac/Mason Plumlee
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Shot-making
- Rebounding
- Ball movement
- Contesting shots
- Limiting turnovers
Prediction
Suns 125 – Clippers 105
The Suns are facing a shell of the Clippers tonight and no matter how inconsistent they have been, they have seemingly always responded to these really bad losses the next game. There is no reason they shouldn’t tonight with everyone L.A. has out, and if they do then it’s really time to hit the panic button. Phoenix just needs to keep up with what it did in the second half last night and see the ball go through the hole. The Suns cannot let the Clippers sweep them this season and cannot afford a loss anyways with where they are in the standings.
Last Meeting (April 9, 2024)
Suns’ Rally Falls Short in Home Finale Loss Against Clippers
Team Matchup Notes
Everything to know about the Suns and Clippers before their fourth and final meeting this season (via Suns):
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Preview: Injury Report
Clippers down 3 stars against Suns tonight, Jusuf Nurkić to return
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
