Placing bets on free NBA picks in season openers can be a risk, but there is also value if you are prudent. Shopping around sportsbooks makes that clear. Looking at the changes the Phoenix Suns made in the offseason, it should be clear where to find that value, especially against a Los Angeles Clippers rotation already battling injury.
My Suns vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks will focus on those offseason changes, albeit through their longest-tenured player before tip at 10:00 ET on Wednesday, October 23.
Suns vs Clippers prediction
My best bet
Devin Booker Over 2.5 made 3s (+115 at BetMGM)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Remember folks, always shop. Before ever recommending a best bet in these NBA picks, at least five sportsbooks are checked. A bet is never suggested only because of a price discrepancy, but finding a price discrepancy can reinforce the value of a bet and strengthen a lean.
DraftKings set the juice at -115 on Devin Booker making at least three 3-pointers. BetRivers sets it at -103. Snagging this at +115 turns it from a lean into a must-bet.
Booker has always been a shooter. We all know that. He took 6.1 threes per game last year. Suggesting he is about to take many more may seem aggressive. And Booker may not, but the Phoenix Suns absolutely will. And as Phoenix’s best shooter, Booker is likely going to lead the way. Furthermore, if everyone on the roster is shooting from deep more often, then Booker’s looks should be cleaner.
Why is everyone in the Suns' rotation going to shoot more often? Two reasons. First of all, Mike Budenholzer.
In his five years leading the Bucks, Milwaukee never took fewer than 37.1 threes per game, peaking at 40.3 in his final season. Last season, Phoenix took 32.6 threes per game, and that was with a roster that had significantly better shooters than Budenholzer enjoyed, with no offense intended to Khris Middleton or Brook Lopez.
Second of all, Tyus Jones.
The Suns now have a true point guard. Booker plays pretty well with the ball in his hands, initiating the offense, but his true calling is as a traditional shooting guard. Jones should get Booker better looks. That should worry the rest of the league.
Suns vs Clippers same-game parlay (SGP)
Devin Booker Over 2.5 threes
Tyus Jones Over 6.5 assists
Suns -5
Every leg of this goes hand-in-hand. It is almost a waste of energy to dispense with these keystrokes. Jones averaged 7.3 assists last season at Washington. Any casual NBA fan knows the talent differences between the Suns’ roster now and the Wizards’ a year ago. And still, Jones cleared this prop in 34 of 66 games.
Simply enough, Jones should average north of seven assists this season, perhaps north of eight. But it may take oddsmakers a week or two to properly set his assists prop.
And if Jones is setting up Booker with looks, the Suns winning comfortably is not much of a further logical leap.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Suns vs Clippers odds
Suns vs Clippers live odds
Get the latest Suns vs Clippers NBA odds.
Suns vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: Phoenix +1.5 | Los Angeles -1.5
- Moneyline: Phoenix -105 | Los Angeles -115
- Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5
Suns vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- Season openers hit the board in mid-August, and at that point, the Clippers were one-point favorites. Back then, there was still some expectation that Kawhi Leonard would play, rather than start this season at the same spot he ended last.
- As it became clear that Kawhi would be absent, this line began to tick upward, initially peaking at -2.5 at the end of September.
- More earnestly, the spread climbed to -5.5 a week ago, dropping down to -4.5 and then settling at -5 on Wednesday morning.
- The total did not fluctuate as much as a result of Leonard’s absence, opening at 224.5 and holding rather steady until some books moved to 225.5 on Wednesday morning.
Suns vs Clippers trend
This is not a betting trend, but this is a season opener between two evolving rosters. Let’s instead acknowledge a key storyline tonight: The Clippers are opening a brand new arena all of their own, the $2 billion Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Clippers.
Suns vs Clippers game info
| Location: | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
| Date: | Wednesday, 10-23-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Suns vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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