NBA Totals: Suns, Clippers to Stay Hot
The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers lock horns again this Tuesday for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 saw a high-scoring affair despite the Suns’ usual defensive nature. Both teams have red-hot offenses and that should continue as the NBA betting lines indicate with totals of 224 points.
The Suns edged the Clippers with a shooting line of 551/406/1000, although the Clippers hit 20 three-pointers, seven more than Phoenix. But with each team missing one of their best players in Chris Paul and Kawhi Leonard, respectively, the two played some pretty basketball. Bet online on things to stay the same with scoring to once again be high.
Totals Previews
Clippers: Two-Man Show
The underdog LA Clippers shot 20-of-47 from deep but still couldn’t get the job done. Phoenix did a great job defending from inside the arc. Paul George hit 7-of-15 three-pointers and scored 34 points while guard Reggie Jackson added 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting.
But the two, along with center DeMarcus Cousins, were the only Clippers to score in double figures. The likes of forwards Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum and Terance Mann, the hero of the previous series, combined for just 20 points on 40 percent shooting.
Still, the Clippers averaged a 124 offensive rating and had 23 assists to just nine turnovers. They played the Suns close throughout the game, but were unable to stop their machine-like efficiency. LA’s course of action wouldn’t be to tighten up defensively — double down and pump up the scoring as this is the team’s bread-and-butter.
Suns: Man on Fire
The Phoenix Suns saw the George and raised them a Devin Booker, who erupted for 40 points on 51.7 percent shooting while adding 13 boards and 11 assists for his first career playoff triple-double.
Paul George and Devin booker #LACvsPHX pic.twitter.com/G43WYWHjik
Uzisdreads (@treeshmaker) June 20, 2021
(Embed tweet: https://twitter.com/treeshmaker/status/1406722953597775873?s=20)
Booker’s hot performance earned him a comparison to the late great Kobe Bryant on ESPN. That may be hyperbole (and a jinx), but Booker proved he can flourish without Paul riding shotgun.
His continued offensive prowess bodes well for Phoenix, which had a 62.4 percent effective field goal percent (eFG%) and a 130.5 offensive rating. That would explain why the totals all went over despite the game’s pace being at 92.
Totals: Sliders Up
Game 1 featured one of the best offensive showcases any fan could ask for. We saw two of the best teams in the NBA duke it out in what would be the basketball equivalent of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez exchanging heated yet precise leather for 12 rounds.
The trend should continue as the offenses of both teams outweigh their defensive prowess, especially without Leonard and Paul. Expect the Clippers to continue firing away while Phoenix scores from every angle.
Six of the Clippers’ last nine road games have gone over, as have four of the Suns’ last six games in total. The pace should not matter so much if both teams continue to shoot over 40 percent from deep and play efficiently with just 16 turnovers to 56 assists between the two.
Pick: Over 224 points
Bonus Totals: Still Top-Notch
The Clippers scored the highest quarter (39 points) in Game 1 despite losing. The betting odds here should be closer to a pick’em as either of these teams can go off on the other.
Phoenix is more consistent and can score 30-plus each quarter. The Clippers have more ebbs and flows. But their propensity to jack threes could lead to a big quarter that could cash this underdog bet.
Pick: Team With Highest Scoring Quarter – Clippers (+165)
