Pacific Division foes will lock horns when the Los Angeles Clippers (35-18) play the Phoenix Suns (14-40) at the Staples Center. Action begins at 10:30 pm ET on Monday, Feb. 22 and can be seen on NBA, PRI and FAZ.
The Clippers are hoping for a better outcome after their 139-134 loss to the Celtics in their last matchup. Despite the loss, Chris Paul earned his 22nd double-double this season with 35 points and 13 assists. The Suns, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 112-104 loss against the Warriors in their last game. Phoenix still lost despite the best efforts of Tyson Chandler, who recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
When evaluating effective field goal percentage, the Clippers could have a healthy advantage on offense. They’re ranked fourth in the league in that category at 51.9%, while Phoenix’s suspect effective field goal percentage defense is ranked 30th, allowing opponents to connect at a rate of 52.8% this year.
Both teams have won a game in the season series. The Suns had the upper hand in the most recent game, a 118-104 win. Brandon Knight was the game’s top overall scorer with 37 points.
The Clippers come into this game 36-19 Straight Up (SU) and 27-26-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 3-6 SU and 5-4 ATS against divisional opponents. The Clippers have seen a decline in scoring as of late, averaging 96.7 points during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 104.8 points per game. The Clippers are one of the best in the NBA in terms of field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .462 from the field. Los Angeles is one of the most disciplined teams in the league with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.80. Los Angeles’s defense has fallen apart in the past 10 games. Its average points allowed per game rose to 108.9 during that span, compared to its 100.8 season average. Los Angeles’s defense can be considered one of the best in the league. The Clippers allow a .437 opponent field-goal percentage, one of the lowest shooting rates in the league.
As for their opponent, the Suns have a record of 22-34 ATS and 14-42 SU. Against fellow division members, Phoenix has a 5-5 SU and a 3-7 ATS record. The Suns average 107.1 points allowed per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 99.5 points per game during that span.
Phoenix beat Los Angeles in their most recent meeting this season, but the win was not enough to overtake Los Angeles in the most recent head-to-head series. Its record is now 2-8 SU over the last 10 meetings. The teams are even ATS, with a 5-5 record.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAC
Notes
Los Angeles puts up an average of 104.8 points per game (ranked seventh). Phoenix ranks 29th in points allowed per game with 107.1.
Phoenix ranks 21st in points allowed per road game (109.4 PPG), while Los Angeles ranks ninth in points per home game with 105.8.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Clippers are 25-2 on the season. When the Suns score fewer than 100, they are a subpar 1-25.
At 10-16, the Los Angeles Clippers have a poor record when their opponents score at least 100 points. The Phoenix Suns are 13-15 when they put up triple digits.
The Suns have a defensive rating of 107.8 (ranked 29th). The Clippers rank sixth for their offensive rating of 106.6.
Los Angeles averages fewer possessions per game than Phoenix, with 98.2 compared to 100.2. However, the Clippers score an average of 1.066 points per possession, more than the 1.003 that the Suns score.
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking fourth in the league with an EFF% of 51.9%. When their opponents record a similar or higher EFF%, the Phoenix Suns have an abysmal 3-28 record.
Los Angeles makes an average of 22.6 assists per game (ranked ninth), while Phoenix makes 20.6 assists per game (ranked 23rd).
Los Angeles makes an average of 5.4 blocks per game (ranked 10th), while Phoenix makes 3.9 blocks per game (ranked 25th).
Los Angeles is ranked 26th when it comes to offensive rebounding. Phoenix ranks 22nd in defensive rebounds.
The Phoenix Suns make an average of 8.2 steals per game. When the Los Angeles Clippers allow 8 or more steals, they are a solid 16-8.
