NBA Sports Betting Clippers @ Suns

BetUS NBA Basketball Betting Odds: PHOENIX -12.5, Total 198.5

Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* LA has covered one of its last five games

* LA has lost its last five games SU

* LA has covered five of its last seven road games

* LA has lost 19 of its last 25 road games SU

* LA has played four of its last six road games OVER the total

* PHX has covered two of its last seven games

* PHX has won five of its last seven games SU

* PHX has played 11 of its last 15 games OVER the total

* PHX has covered two of its last eight home games

* PHX has won five of its last six home games SU

Also...

* PHX has won four of the last six meetings SU

* The last five meetings have gone UNDER the total

* PHX has covered four of the last six meetings as the home team

* PHX has won five of the last six meetings SU as the home team

* PHX has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings

* PHX has made more three-pointers in six of the last seven meetings

Here's the latest quote from Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling:

"I don't take losing well."

If that's the case, he's had almost nothing but misery for a lot of years.

Hey, if the Clippers are losing big again this season, it's not because Sterling and his front office haven't tried to upgrade things. They went out and got Baron Davis to run the show, as well as Marcus Camby to swat away shots. Zach Randolph was acquired from the Knicks to add inside offense, as Elton Brand departed as a free agent. The problem was getting all these guys on the floor at the same time. That has been something out of the control of Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy.

At this point Chris Kaman (foot injury), one of the NBA's better rebounders, and Randolph (bruised knee), who had been averaging 23 points and ten rebounds since coming over in the trade, are out of action. This is the second lowest scoring team in the league, at 93.5 ppg. That is of course a by-product of their shooting, which is the league's worst at 42.4%.

Contrast that with the Suns, who are the league's best shooting team at 49.8%. Phoenix has been going through an interesting season, as it undergoes subtle changes in philosophy under new coach Terry Porter, and sustains changes in personnel as well. Jason Richardson is the big new acquisition, coming over from Charlotte, and since he's been wearing the Suns' uniform he's averaged 15.9 ppg, down from his 18.7 with the Bobcats but understandable in that he is having to share the ball more, but he's hitting 51% from beyond the three-point arc, which makes this team more dangerous.

Shaquille O'Neal is now surging for the Suns. The "Big Cactus" is averaging 24.4 points and 10.3 rebounds over his last seven games, and is shooting 60% from both the field and the free throw line. He's got two days of rest coming into this game, and that doesn't make things comforting for the Clippers. Neither does the return of Steve Nash, who missed Tuesday's game against Memphis with back spasms.