Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns' guard, is left folded by Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers' guard, as... [+] during Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals, Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill). ASSOCIATED PRESSTonight's Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals will see the Phoenix Suns taking on the Los Angeles Clippers for a spot in the NBA Finals. The contest starts at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.ADVERTISEMENTWith a victory on Saturday on the road, the Suns put their opponent to the sword and built a 3-1 lead in this series. As only three teams have ever recovered from this conference finals deficit, the odds are against the Clippers.Bookmakers predict that Phoenix will win this evening and place the team as a 5.5 point home favorite for Game 5. This follows the Suns' win at the Staples Center last weekend. They defeated Los Angeles by an 84 to 80 margin in a defensive-oriented match.Unsurprisingly, Devin Booker was the Phoenix's top scorer in the last game. Despite shooting poorly, he managed to make just 8 of 22 from the field. He also missed all five of his three pointers. Booker got to the line eleven times and made nine free throws. Chris Paul struggled in his second game after a two-game absence due to health and safety protocols. He was only 6-of-22 from field, missed all five of his three-pointers, and did not get to the line 11 times. However, he did contribute seven assists that helped his team score a win.Phoenix's outstanding defense enabled them to overcome an offensively weak performance. They held the Clippers to just 32.5% field goal shooting and allowed them to make only 16.1% of their three pointers. Paul George, the star swingman, couldn't get to the point from deep and made only one of nine long-range shots on his way to scoring a team record 23 points. Reggie Jackson, one of the team's heroes in Game 3 Wwasnt any better. He went 2-of-9 from three point land and finished with 8-of-24 overall for 20 points.Los Angeles cannot afford another poor night on the offensive if it wants to win its first NBA Finals title. Kawhi Leonard, who is still sidelined by a mysterious knee injury, is reportedly unhappy with the Clippers medical staff's handling of the matter. The short-handed team will have to dig deep to win in Arizona, bring the series back to LA, and force a decisive Game 7. Although it will be a difficult journey, the Clippers proved their resolve earlier in this postseason. They lost 0-2 to the Utah Jazz in the semifinals and then won four straight games to advance.Will the Suns return to the NBA Finals for only the third time in their history? Or will they make their first appearance since 1993?ADVERTISEMENTBelow are some predictions and picks on this possible elimination matchup. But first, take a look at the 2021 NBA Playoff bracket. Also, see the viewing guide for Game 5. This includes the complete schedule and tip-off time. It also has live streaming sites, odds, and other information to help you prepare for Monday's pivotal Suns-Clippers game.2021 NBA Playoff BracketNBA Playoff Bracket NBA.comNo. 2 Phoenix Suns vs. 4 Los Angeles ClippersGuide to the Western Conference Finals Game 5 Video GuideDate and Time: Game 5 in the Suns-Clippers series will begin at 9 p.m. ETADVERTISEMENTTV: ESPN will broadcast Game 5 and the remaining 2021 Western Conference Finals games. The announce team includes play-by–play on play–by-play, two color commentators, Jeff Van Gundy & Mark Jackson, and Rachel Nichols reporting from sidelines.Live Streaming: WatchESPN and ESPN have two apps that allow you to stream Game 5 of Western Conference Finals.Series Standings: Although the Suns maintained their homecourt advantage with back-to-back wins to begin the Western Conference Finals, the Clippers won a convincing victory at home after the series was switched to LA. The Clippers couldn't maintain that momentum and lost Game 4 to the Clippers, who now stand at the brink of elimination.ADVERTISEMENTBelow are the Suns-Clippers Series results and Game 4 Highlights:Schedule and Series ScoresAll Times ETGame 1: Suns 110 ClippersGame 2: Suns and 104 Clippers 103Game 3: Clippers against 106 Suns 92ADVERTISEMENTGame 4: Suns 80 Clippers 80Game 5: Monday June 28, Clippers at Suns 9 p.m. (ESPN).Game 6: Wednesday June 30, Suns at Clippers 9 p.m. (ESPN).Game 7: Friday July 2, Clippers at Suns 9 p.m. (ESPN).*If requiredADVERTISEMENTBetting Overview: Suns vs. ClippersPlay 5 OddsFanDuel Sportsbook - NBA oddsSpread: Suns 5.5ADVERTISEMENTAlthough the Suns have a large home chalk, they are still supported by the public in big ways.The Suns had drawn 61% and 81% respectively of all bets against the spread as of Monday afternoon. Despite these unfavorable public betting trends, the spread for Game 5 has been moved a full point to LA by bookmakers.The spread suggests that the contest is closer than it appears, so the sharps have been backing the Clippers with the points. They have a good chance of keeping the final score below five points, considering this is a game that's up for grabs.Total: More than 212.5 pointsADVERTISEMENTIn terms of the amount that the public is betting on Game 5, the Game 5 total is much more balanced than its spread.Only a few hours remain before tipoff and both the under and over have drawn exactly half of the tickets. The handle, however, is slightly biased towards the under, with 53% of all the money.The wise men have been hammering both sides, even though the public isn't doing so. The under has seen heavy action from bookmakers who have moved the total three points lower than the open. After opening at 215.5, Game 5's total now stands at 212.5.Moneyline: Suns +240, Clippers +200ADVERTISEMENTVegas believes that the Suns will win the Western Conference Finals tonight and the public supports this view.The odds of winning tonight by any margin are -240, which means that one would need to wager $2.40 to win $1. It is clear that a lot of people are willing to place bets on the favorites, even though they have 73% of the money.Based on their +200 odds, the Clippers have a 33% implied chance of pulling off an upset. The underdog, and there aren't many of them right now, with only 27% bets and just 4% of cash on LA's side, would net $2 per $1 risked.Clippers +5.5 in Game 5ADVERTISEMENTGame 5 Prediction: Suns99 Clippers 97Future Odds and Series LinesWestern Conference Champions: Suns 3500, Clippers 1400NBA Championship Odds: Bucks +110, Suns +100 Hawks +3200 Hawks, Clippers +3200
