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The big question for Game 5 of the Los Angeles Lakers–Phoenix Suns Western Conference playoff series Tuesday is whether Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis will play due to a groin injury. It doesn’t appear that he will. The Suns are favored on the NBA odds and that may rise some if Davis sits.

How to Bet Lakers at Suns NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 10 PM ET
Where: PHX Arena
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio:com

Why Bet on LA Lakers?

Any realistic chance the Lakers had of winning Game 4 and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead on Sunday ended when star Anthony Davis went down with a groin injury; he missed a layup with 48.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter and collapsed to the floor after landing. He had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 19 minutes.

Los Angeles trailed by just one when Davis dropped to the floor in agony. From there, Phoenix built an eventual 18-point lead by starting out the third quarter on an 8-2 run.

The team is calling Davis day-to-day for now, but this writer would be surprised if he plays on Tuesday. There’s “optimism” about Davis’ status as the series continues but Kyle Kuzma is likely to start Game 5. Kuzma had 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting and 1-for-5 5 from 3 in Game 4. He added 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Los Angeles went 11-7 during the regular season when LeBron James played and Davis did not, though among those games, the Lakers were just 1-6 vs. teams that went on to make the playoffs.

James finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists Sunday but also committed six turnovers. It was his second double-double of the season while also topping the 20-point mark for the third straight game. However, he committed five or more turnovers for the third time over the four contests of the series and once again looked sloppy as the team’s primary playmaking threat. It should be noted that James has never lost in the first round of the playoffs. He knows he must step up with Davis out.

“These shoulders were built for a reason,” he said. “So, if it takes for me to put some more on top of it, then so be it. Win, lose or draw, I’m ready for the challenge.”

In addition, starting guard Kentavious Caldwell Pope missed Game 4; KCP injured his knee in the third quarter of Game 3 vs. the Suns Thursday night. An MRI on Friday revealed no structural damage, but a mild left knee contusion. Maybe he can play in this one. Wesley Matthews started for him in Game 4.

Marc Gasol played well in Game 4 and could get more time with Davis hurt. Gasol had 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks across 23 minutes off the bench. Gasol has played at least 20 minutes in two of his three games since returning to the rotation and posted his first double-digit scoring effort since May 3.

Why Bet on Phoenix?

Suns star point guard Chris Paul was going to sit Game 4 with his shoulder injury but talked coach Monty Williams into letting him play, and Paul looked quite a bit healthier. In just three quarters of action, Paul matched his production from the two previous games with 14 points (5-10 FGs), before finishing the game with a team-high 18 points, nine assists and three steals. It was the Suns’ first road playoff victory in more than 11 years. The last one came on May 9, 2010.

“He said, ‘Coach, let me start, and if you don’t think I’m looking like I normally do, then take me out and we’ll have to go in a different direction,'” Williams said. “This is one of those situations that I had to trust the player.”

Paul had zero turnovers in nearly 32 minutes on Sunday against the Lakers’ top-rated defense. It was the sixth career playoff game in which Paul has had more than nine assists and zero turnovers, passing Magic Johnson for the most such games in NBA history.

“The game is a lot easier when he’s out there,” Suns guard Cameron Payne said. “We’re a much better team.”

Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the second-seeded Suns, who took advantage of Anthony Davis’ absence from the second half with a groin injury to reclaim home-court advantage after two straight losses. Ayton has been the Suns’ best player by a wide margin during the team’s current playoff run, with four double-doubles. He’s averaging 19.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in this series.

Devin Booker had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Booker hasn’t been able to clear the 20-point mark after opening the series with back-to-back 30-point performances. He’s made just 40.7 percent of his shots from the field, well below his mark of 48.4 percent of accuracy during the regular season. Jae Crowder finally came to life from 3-point range with a 3-of-8 effort from deep after shooting an ugly 2-of-20 on 3s through the first three games of the series.

The Suns will allow 16,000 fans amid COVID-19 restrictions, up from about 11,000 for Game 2.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Suns guard Devin Booker said. “I just hit my socials and said, ‘Back to the desert.’ I know we got an extra 5,000 in there from (Game 2).”

Game Trends

Lakers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.
Lakers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Suns are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Suns are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Tuesday games.