Yahoo Sports The Daily Sweat: Suns can close out Clippers with Kawhi Leonard still sidelined
When the first-round series between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers began, it looked like it had the potential to go seven games.
The Suns entered the postseason as one of the betting favorites to win the NBA title, but the Clippers went into Phoenix and upset the Suns in Game 1 behind a tremendous outing from Kawhi Leonard. Leonard, who has been hampered by injury in recent seasons, looked like his old self by posting 38 points in the 115-110 win.
A week later, things have changed drastically in the series.
Leonard has been managing knee issues throughout the season and aggravated his sprained right knee in Game 1. He played through it in Game 2, a 123-109 Suns win to even the series at 1-1, and his symptoms worsened. He hasn’t played since.
Leonard was sidelined for Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles, and the Suns won both to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The series will shift back to Phoenix for Game 5 on Tuesday night and Leonard has already been ruled out.
It’s desperation time for the Clippers. Can they prolong the series and send it back to L.A.? Oddsmakers are skeptical.
The Clippers are huge underdogs for Game 5, currently +12.5 at BetMGM. Even without Leonard, they came very close to getting another win in both Game 3 and 4. In Game 3, they were down by just three in the final two minutes and ended up losing 129-124. In Game 4, the Clippers twice pulled within two points in the fourth quarter but just could not get over the hump in an eventual 112-100 loss.
The Clippers were already missing Paul George. Leonard’s injury and consecutive close losses have to be deflating for the team. Can they get up off the mat and give the Suns another upset scare?
The Clippers are 11-11 as road underdogs this season but have only twice been a double-digit underdog. In both games, the Clippers lost and failed to cover the spread.
Celtics, Nuggets look to advance to second round
The Suns aren’t the only team that can advance in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday night.
In the East, the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics can send the Atlanta Hawks home with a Game 5 matchup. The Celtics were dominant in Games 1 and 2 at home before dropping Game 3 in Atlanta. From there, the Celtics took care of business in Game 4 to set up a potential series clincher at home. The Celtics are favored by 13.5 points at BetMGM.
Later Tuesday night, the Denver Nuggets — the West’s No. 1 seed — can eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 in Denver. The Nuggets won the first three games of the series, but could not complete the sweep in Game 4. For Game 5, the Nuggets are favored by 9.5 points at BetMGM.
Three NHL playoff games
Three NHL playoff series continue on Tuesday night, including two in the Western Conference that are locked up at 2-2.
The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are tied at two games apiece and the Stars are -145 favorites for Game 5 at home.
Elsewhere in the West, the Edmonton Oilers are -225 favorites at home in their Game 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.
And in the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Panthers are up 3-1 in their series with the New York Islanders. The Hurricanes can close it out at home on Tuesday night and are -165 favorites at BetMGM.
Busy day in MLB
There are 15 games to sort through in baseball on Tuesday night, including two surprising teams on seven-game winning streaks. The Baltimore Orioles are looking to make it eight in a row when they host the Boston Red Sox.
Baltimore has Kyle Bradish on the mound and is a -160 favorite.
In the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates are going for eight straight at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates are coming off sweeps over the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds, two of the worst teams in the NL. The Dodgers will be a much tougher matchup. As such, the Dodgers are -125 favorites even though this three-game series is at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are +105.
The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in baseball at 20-3 and are riding a six-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s meeting with the Houston Astros. The Rays beat the Astros 8-3 on Monday night to improve to a perfect 14-0 at home to start the season. That’s a Major League record that can improve to 15-0 on Tuesday. The Rays are -175 on the moneyline.
What’s the best bet?
I don't think the Clippers are going to go down without a fight, but I don't trust their depth over the course of four quarters.
I'm going to play the Clippers +8.5 in the first half expecting a spirited early effort before a game that could get out of hand as the second half progresses.
