Clippers And Suns Final Injury Reports And Starting Lineups

The Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns have finalized their injury reports and starting lineups.

On Thursday evening, the Phoenix Suns are hosting the Los Angeles Clippers in Arizona for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.        

For the game, both teams have finalized their injury reports and starting lineups. 

The Clippers have ruled out their two best players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, while the Suns will be without Cameron Payne.  

NBA's official injury report 

The starting lineups for both teams have been relayed by Underdog NBA. 

Via Underdog NBA: "Lineup alert: Clippers will start Westbrook, Gordon, Powell, Batum, Zubac on Thursday."

Lineup alert: Clippers will start Westbrook, Gordon, Powell, Batum, Zubac on Thursday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) April 21, 2023

Via Underdog NBA: "Lineup alert: Suns will start Paul, Booker, Craig, Durant, Ayton on Thursday."

Lineup alert: Suns will start Paul, Booker, Craig, Durant, Ayton on Thursday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) April 21, 2023

The series is tied at 1-1 after Games 1 and 2 in Arizona (the Clippers won the first, while the Suns won the second). 

Playing without Leonard and George puts the Clippers at a huge disadvantage for Thursday's game. 

That said, they did a good job getting a victory on the road in Game 1, so they are in a good spot with Games 3 and 4 on their home floor. 

The Clippers are the fifth seed in the Western Conference and had a 44-38 record, while the Suns are the fourth seed and had a 45-37 record. 

Both teams have extremely talented rosters that are more than capable of competing for the 2023 NBA Championship. 

Therefore, whoever loses will head into the offseason after a very disappointing first-round exit. 

The winner of the series will face off with either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. 

More on the Los Angeles Clippers can be read here