Suns vs Lakers Game 4 Preview: Suns Sweating Out CP3’s Health Ahead of Must-Win Game 4

The Suns vs Lakers series is now in must-win territory for the second-seeded Suns, who trail 2-1 entering today’s Game 4. Can they stem the tide and tie the series, or will LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers take a 3-1 lead back to Phoenix?

The Suns took the series opener at home, repelling the Lakers with relative ease. But the win came at a cost, as star point guard Chris Paul injured his shoulder in the second quarter of the win. CP3 has largely been a non-factor in the last two games, and the Lakers have won both games to move ahead in the series.

Paul will take the court in this afternoon’s Game 4, but it’s unknown how effective he will be against the Lakers. Can he play through the pain and deliver to help the Suns level things up at 2, or will the Suns be unable to stop the bleeding?

Phoenix Suns (1-2) vs Los Angeles Lakers (2-1), ABC, 3:30 pm ET

Suns vs Lakers Series Schedule and Results

• Sunday, May 23 | Game 1 (at Phoenix): Suns 99-90 Lakers
• Tuesday, May 25 | Game 2 (at Phoenix): Lakers 109-102 Suns
• Thursday, May 27 | Game 3 (at Los Angeles): Lakers 109-95 Suns
• Sunday, May 30 | Game 4 (at Los Angeles): Suns at Lakers, ABC, 3:30 pm ET
• Tuesday, June 1 | Game 5 (at Phoenix): Lakers at Suns, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
• Thursday, June 3 | Game 6 (at Los Angeles): Suns at Lakers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
• Saturday, June 5 | Game 7 (at Phoenix): Lakers at Suns, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Suns vs Lakers Series Betting Odds

Odds to Win the Series

• Phoenix Suns +520
• Los Angeles Lakers -800

Series Spread

• Phoenix Suns +2.5 (-164)
• Los Angeles Lakers -2.5 (+134)

Series Correct Score Odds

• Suns 4-2 +2000
• 4-3 Suns +700
• Lakers 4-1 +125
• 4-2 Lakers +165
• Lakers 4-3 +600

Suns vs Lakers Game 4 Betting Odds

• Spread: Suns +6.5 (-106), Lakers -6.5 (-114)
• Total: OVER 208.5 (-112), UNDER 208.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Suns +240, Lakers -295

Suns vs Lakers Game 4 Betting Consensus

• Spread: 60% Suns, 40% Lakers (at +/-7)
• Total: 100% OVER, 0% UNDER (at O/U 209.5)
• Moneyline: 30% Suns, 70% Lakers

Lakers vs Suns odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Sunday, May 30 at 2:45 pm ET. For more NBA betting odds, check out our NBA odds page. It features updated odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.

CP3 Will Play, But How Much Will He Help?

As mentioned above, it has been announced that Paul will be active for Game 4. After playing 36 minutes in Game 1, he has played a combined 50 minutes in the last two games. His numbers reflect his lack of time on the court and his lack of effectiveness when he has been on it. In the series, he is averaging just 6.7 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, and 6.3 assists per game. That is not the kind of production that will help the Suns win their first playoff series since 2010.

But can he deliver the kind of impact that is needed to make a difference? Based on his lack of effectiveness and on-court time over the last couple of games, much cannot be expected from CP3 today. Were he healthy, it could be a completely different series, but these things are not always fair.

On the positive side, he is not worsening the impact of his injury by making a bunch of turnovers. While he has only 19 assists in three games, he also has only six turnovers. That is a good thing, but he needs to be more like his usual self in order for the Suns to have a chance to level the series. He was a big reason for their success in the regular season, and they are just not the same team with him so limited.

The Suns are the consensus spread play, but there is no way that they can be a trusted pre-game play based on how things have gone over the last two games. For anyone planning to back the Suns, it is much wiser to sit back, watch the early action, and see if there is still value. Even with CP3 back, there’s blood in the water, and the Lakers are much better pre-game value.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Lakers Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More