The Clippers in their new Home and without Kawhi Leonard host Phoenix – 2024 NBA Week 1 Odds

The Los Angeles Clippers will christen their spectacular new Intuit Dome when they host the Phoenix Suns in the NBA season opener for both.

The Clips are solid dogs on the NBA odds, playing without All-Star Kawhi Leonard.

Why Bet on Phoenix?

We last saw the Suns being swept in the first round of the 2024 West playoffs by Minnesota, but Phoenix is largely back intact other than making a coaching change and signing point guard Tyus Jones, who fills a gaping hole on the roster as Phoenix didn’t have a true point guard last season. Jones, who averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists for the Washington Wizards in 2023-24, will get a chance to impact a Western Conference contender and potentially return to a more financially flush free agent market next summer.

The cap-strapped Suns had only the veterans’ minimum available to offer Jones, and he took it. He had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 7.35 last season, the highest of any player in a season since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.

First official business trip 💼 pic.twitter.com/Iojj8YzXPF

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 22, 2024

Mike Budenholzer

Coach Frank Nagel was fired not long after the sweep and replaced by former NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer, who is the franchise’s third head coach in three seasons, a run that has included owner Mat Ishbia firing Monty Williams and Vogel in successive years. The hiring of Budenholzer comes with significant pressure and expectations for the team. The roster has been constructed around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, bringing championship aspirations and a slim margin for error.

Grayson Allen

The only injury concern from the preseason for the Suns was to guard Allen, but he’s expected to play. He signed a four-year, $70 million extension with the team last April to keep him out of free agency. Allen started 73 games and averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 33.5 minutes per game. His 46.1% on 3-pointers led the NBA this season. Allen is expected to be the Sixth Man this season with the addition of Jones.

Kevin Durant

Phoenix star Durant averaged 27.1 points per game during the 2023-24 season, the second-highest scoring average in a single season by a Suns player, trailing only Tom Chambers 27.2 PPG average during the 1989-90 season.

Devin Booker

Booker has averaged 25+ PPG on 45+ FG% in each of the last six seasons dating, one of only three players in the NBA to do so in each season since the start of 2018-19 (Giannis Antetokounmpo & LeBron James). Booker needs 1,138 points to surpass Walter Davis to become the Sun’s all-time leading scorer. Bradley Beal averaged 18.2 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in his first season with the Suns in 2023-24 but couldn’t stay healthy.

The Suns enter this season having reached the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, matching their longest such stretch (four-straight from 2005-2008) since doing so in 13 straight from 1989-2001. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, the Suns hold a combined regular season record of 209-109 (.657 W/L%), the most wins and highest winning percentage in the NBA.

Why Bet on LA Clippers?

Last season, the Clippers secured the third Pacific Division title in franchise history (last: 2013-14 season). LAC also clinched a postseason berth for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons but went out in Round 1. LA extended a franchise record of securing a record above .500 to 13 consecutive seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NBA and the seventh-longest streak in NBA history.

Paul George

However, the Clippers lost All-Star George in free agency this summer to Philadelphia and will be without fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard indefinitely, although that’s nothing new. Still, not an ideal way to open the new Intuit Dome.

L.A. wanted to keep George, but the Sixers went to an extra year. He said he would have taken the same three-year, $150 million extension that Leonard signed last January. But when George said the Clippers offered him the same deal this summer once he became a free agent, he wanted a no-trade clause attached since the team wasn’t willing to offer the max. The Clippers were not willing to give a no-trade clause, so George walked for a four-year, $212 million deal with the Sixers.

The 34-year-old played 74 regular-season games last year — his most since he was traded to the Clippers before the 2019-20 season. The nine-time All-Star averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot career highs of 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from 3-point range and 90.7% from the free throw line.

Kawhi Leonard

As for Leonard, he will be sidelined indefinitely to begin the NBA season as he rehabilitates from inflammation in his right knee. The Clippers and Leonard are in the midst of a rehab process for the two-time NBA Finals MVP that is aimed at bringing sustainability for him on the court through the season, and the franchise will be diligent and cautious to ensure his fitness long term. Lue said Leonard suffered a “setback” after participating in USA Basketball camp in Las Vegas back in July. Leonard was eventually dropped from that roster and didn’t play this preseason nor participated in any activity involving on-court contact during training camp.

In Leonard’s absence, James Harden, who said he feels more comfortable this season after having a full training camp, will be relied upon to shoulder much of the offensive load and be the team leader. With George now in Philadelphia and Russell Westbrook in Denver, Harden will try to be a playmaker for the likes of Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell and Terance Mann.

🚑 INJURY REPORT 🚑

⛵️ Clippers
Kawhi Leonard – OUT
Mo Bamba – OUT
PJ Tucker – OUT

☀️ Suns
Josh Okogie – OUT
Grayson Allen – GAME TIME DECISION
Damion Lee – GAME TIME DECISION

— LA Clippers FR ⛵️ (@LAClippersFRA) October 23, 2024

Norman Powell

Powell may move into the starting lineup after being terrific off the bench last season, averaging 13.8 points while shooting 48.8% from the field and 42.8% from three. Powell ranked first in the NBA in games with at least 10 points off the bench (59), and was the only player in the NBA to be shooting at least 48% from the field, 42% from three and 82% from the free-throw line off the bench (min. 40 GP).

How to Watch Suns at Clippers in Week 1

When: Wednesday, 10 PM ET
Where: Intuit Dome
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Tunein.com

Suns vs Clippers Last Season

The Clippers won the regular season series with the Suns, 3-1, during the 2023-24 season, as Phoenix’s lone win was the final meeting between the two on April 10 behind 37 points from Devin Booker and 26 from Bradley Beal. The Suns ran off 13 points in a row to go up 114-106, part of a game-ending 23-2 outburst. Los Angeles rested most of its key players.

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