NBA betting odds shift following Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard news

Jun 16, 2021, 12:49 PM | Updated: Jun 18, 2021, 7:08 am

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) passes as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, June 7, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

The reports on Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul’s positive COVID-19 test and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard’s ACL injury have the Western Conference betting odds in flux Wednesday.

With Paul’s 2021 Western Conference Finals debut now up in the air, SportsBetting.ag has removed all of the team’s playoff odds from betting boards until more is known.

As for NBA title odds, both the Brooklyn Nets (+175) and Utah Jazz (+240) are favored ahead of the Suns (+425). Phoenix had the second best odds to win the championship (+325) before the Paul news broke, while Utah was third at +340.

The Clippers saw a significant drop from +550 to +1,200 after reports of Leonard’s injury surfaced. They currently have the sixth best odds.

Looking at the Clippers, Leonard’s injury has moved Los Angeles from three- to seven-point underdogs for Wednesday night’s matchup in Utah.

The Jazz aren’t necessarily at full strength either, as point guard Mike Conley is reportedly expected to miss Game 5 against the Clippers due to a hamstring injury.

The Suns will take on the winner of the Clippers-Jazz series in the Western Conference Finals. Entering play Wednesday, the series is tied 2-2, with the No. 1-seeded Jazz losing back-to-back games.