Suns vs Clippers Game 4 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: Batum Bottoms Out on Scoresheet

Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for the second-straight game, and the Phoenix Suns look to take a daunting 3-1 series lead against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday afternoon.

With the Leonard and Paul George duo again sidelined by injuries, the Clips are once again in danger of an early postseason exit. They're expected to lose again today, with NBA betting lines opening with the Suns as 7.5-point road faves and the Over/Under at 226. Here are my best free Suns vs. Clippers NBA picks and predictions for April 22.

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 best odds

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 picks and predictions

Nicolas Batum has been a valuable defender for the Clippers, but he has often disappeared on the offensive end of the floor.

Despite logging at least 19 minutes in each of his last four games, Batum has been held without a single point in three of those contests and scored a paltry three points in the other. 

The O/U on Batum's points total is set at 5.5 today, a number he has gone below in nine of his last 10 games. Don't expect the absence of Leonard to result in more shots for Batum either, since he attempted just one field goal on Thursday. 

My best bet: Nicolas Batum Under 5.5 points (+106)

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 spread analysis

The Suns have the third-best championship odds, and the Clips would also be seen as contenders if Leonard and George could stay healthy. Unfortunately for L.A. fans, that has rarely been the case.

With both of their All-NBA wings sidelined, the Clips have gone 3-9 this season with their only wins coming against Indiana, Portland, and a Memphis squad missing three starters of its own. 

When Kawhi was ruled out hours before tip off on Thursday night, the Suns jumped from 2.5-point faves to 8-point chalk. The Clips ended up covering in a 129-124 defeat thanks to monster performances by Russell Westbrook (30 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds) and Norman Powell (42 points). 

They'll need Westbrook and Powell to come up big once again today if they want to keep up with a Phoenix team that's shooting 51.4% from the floor this series.

With Kevin Durant and Devin Booker both healthy, coach Monty Williams has been feeding them minutes and they've been filling up the hoop. Booker's averaged 36.3 points in 44.3 minutes per game while KD is putting up 26.7 ppg in 43.3 mpg.

Torrey Craig has chipped in with at least 15 points in every game, and while Chris Paul has lost a step, he's still a high-end floor general that facilitates extremely well. 

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 Over/Under analysis

Earlier this season, the Clippers offense looked brutal whenever Leonard was sidelined. However, that version of the Clips didn't have Westbrook, and while the nine-time All-Star is on the downslope of his career, he can still fill up the hoop (albeit sometimes inefficiently).

With Westbrook running the point, the Clips push the pace, which results in some higher-scoring numbers, but also leads to shaky defensive play. That's what we saw last night when the Clips dropped 73 points in the second half but also allowed the Suns to torch them for 75.

The Clips played at their best when they went to a small-ball lineup so expect plenty of those looks today. That should result in the Suns rotating Deandre Ayton out to match them and should lead to a faster tempo from both squads. 

The Suns averaged a modest 113.6 ppg during the regular season but that was with Booker, Paul, and Ayton missing a total of 57 games and Durant playing in just eight. With all those studs now healthy, expect their offensive efficiency to skyrocket during the playoffs. 

Suns vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Over has gone 6-0 in the Clippers' last six games at home while going 8-1-1 in the previous 10 road contests for Phoenix. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Clippers.

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 game info

Suns vs Clippers Game 4 key injuries

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