The LA Clippers are back in business after scoring their first win of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Will they tie it all up in Game 4? Or will the Suns go up, 3-1? Check out our preview of this game below.
Chris Paul finally returned to action in the playoffs, but in his first game back from his stint in the health & safety protocols, he looked rusty and out of his element. He scored just 15 points on 5/19 shooting from the field in the Suns’ 106-92 road loss. Devin Booker also didn’t look comfortable with his mask on, going 5/21 from the floor for 15 points. Paul could be more acclimated to the playoff atmosphere again in Game 4, while the hope on Booker is that he’s going to get his rhythm back as he becomes more used to wearing a mask. Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton continues to produce, as he made 18 points with nine rebounds and two blocks in Game 3. The Suns are fine and there’s no need for them to panic, but they have to start defending Paul George better to prevent the tide from shifting away from Phoenix’s favor.
The Suns are 8-0 against the spread in all of their last eight games.
The Clippers have finally broken through in the series with the win, and momentum is now on their side following their win in Game 3. It was a fantastic team effort, particularly by the starters, for Los Angeles, which got 27 points from Paul George and 23 from Reggie Jackson. Ivica Zubac proved his worth with a double-double performance of 15 points and 16 rebounds. Those rebounds were big, as those limited the impact of Deandre Ayton and kept possessions alive for the Clippers. Zubac had a game-high six offensive rebounds. He’s an integral part of the Clippers in this series after spending lots of time on the bench towards the end of the Utah Jazz series, with LA looking to run more small-ball lineups. Now, he’s the best option for the Clippers in trying to bottle up Ayton. George also had 15 rebounds. Say what you want to say about PG3, but he’s been playing great overall.
The Clippers are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games as a home underdog.
