Thanks to a hot entry signed Eric Gordon, author of 10 points, the start of the meeting is to the advantage of the Clippers, who take the opportunity to take a six-length lead over a rather clumsy Phoenix team (16- 10). Solid defensively and much more incisive offensively, the players of Tyronn Lue unfolded, and concluded the 1st quarter with a twelve-point lead (30-18).
The Suns are not there at all, and are being punished on almost every Clippers attack. While the gap stabilizes between ten and fifteen points (42-27), the Durant-Booker duo will get going, to allow Phoenix to return to the locker room with only five lengths behind (59-54).
The Suns return from the locker room with better intentions. On a floater, Devin Booker allows his team to come back to just two points (68-66). On a sublime pass from Chris Paul, Torrey Craig even gives the advantage to Phoenix (70-68). Nothing more fits for the Clippers, the momentum goes totally on the side of the Suns. Driven by their audience, they take a nine-point lead (77-68). But Kawhi Leonard’s teammates have resource and character, and they end the 3rd quarter with a 13-4 to equalize (81-81).
During the first six minutes of the 4th quarter, the two teams went blow for blow. A huge Kawhi Leonard allows the Clippers to be slightly ahead of the score (97-96). Kawhi Leonard, again, planted two huge consecutive 3-point shots to allow his team to have a five-point lead with two minutes remaining (106-101). With 29 seconds remaining, the score is 109-108 in favor of the Clippers. Thanks to a Russell Westbrook clutch, first on the free throw line then in defense on Devin Booker, the Clippers sealed the game and won Game 1 (115-110).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Russell Westbrook’s counter. Very clumsy, the leader of the Clippers is however the hero of the end of the match with this counter on Booker 10 seconds from the end. Better, he sends the ball on the leg of Booker to recover the key! A double positive action when there was a three point gap.
– First loss for Kevin Durant in Phoenix. Since arriving in Arizona last February, KD had yet to taste defeat in the Suns jersey. He had a perfect record of 8 wins in as many games played. But that was before crossing paths with Kawhi Leonard and his band, who gave him his first hitch under his new tunic. A first defeat that happens at the worst of times … in the playoffs.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Kawhi Leonard. He never misses a big game, and the Clippers winger finished the game with 38 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists at 13/24 shooting including 3/5 from 3-pointers.
✅Eric Gordon. He set the entry tone, allowing the Clippers to quickly get their hands on the game. He finished with 19 points at 7/14 shooting.
✅ Ivica Zubac. Solid match on his part with a big double-double: 12 points and 15 rebounds.
✅ Kevin Durant. He missed his first five shots, but finished on the verge of a triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
✅ Devin Booker. He was very good on both ends of the field. He finished with 26 points, 4 interceptions, 3 blocks at 10/19 shooting.
✅ Torrey Craig. It’s the nice surprise of this match, it was the real X factor on the Suns side. He finished with 22 points at 9/12 shooting including 2/4 at 3-pointers.
⛔️ ✅ Russell Westbrook. Despite a very difficult evening in shooting (3/19), he stood out for his defensive efforts, especially at the end of the match. He finished with 9 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
⛔️ The Suns bench. Only 10 points scored by the substitutes, which is far too few. An inefficiency that forced Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to play 44 and 43 minutes respectively.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 2 in Phoenix, Tuesday night to Wednesday (4:00 a.m.).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
