In a sold-out room for the 77th game in a row, the Suns were a little scared in the last quarter against the gripping Clippers until the end, but they finally won by six lengths (136-130) to complete this series and get ready to face the Nuggets on Saturday in the conference semifinals.
Author of a fabulous 3rd quarter, with 25 of his 47 points, Devin Booker simply came close to a daunting triple-double with 10 assists and 8 rebounds. Above all, he broke the Californian dam in a third quarter (50-24).
Phoenix will challenge Denver in the conference semifinals
Well balanced by the performance of Kevin Durant (31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Deandre Ayton (21 points, 10 rebounds) inside, the Suns provided the essentials by avoiding a Game 5 and a new trip to Los Angeles.
For their part, the Clippers must say goodbye to another disappointing season, again marked by the injuries of their stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, again at the worst time of the year. Steve Ballmer’s franchise will have its work cut out over the summer to prepare for the highly anticipated opening of its own venue in Los Angeles by 2024.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— The Clippers explode in the 3rd quarter. A + 9 at halftime, the Clippers were in the nails. But that was before the storm! The Suns resumed action after returning from the locker room with the bit in their teeth, and that resulted in a scathing 50-24 in the 3rd quarter, including a flurry, an 18-0 caught in a huge 29 -7 in favor of Suns in full show of force. Author of 25 points over the period, one more than all the Clippers combined, Devin Booker fired all the woods (at an incredible 10/11 on shots) to put his team back in the lead on the scoreboard before the last straight line: +16 (111-94)!
— The Clippers last stand. After an easy dunk from Ayton, the Suns sat enthroned serenely at +15 with 5 minutes remaining. On the edge of the abyss, the Clippers seemed to let themselves slide, death in the soul. But Batum scored a first 3-pointer. Then Powell. Then it’s Mann’s turn in the corner, just in front of his bench, to take a long shot. And the gap is only 6 units 4 minutes from the end! Batum gives a layer and it’s 12-0 to come back to -3. Norm Powell returns the basket plus the foul and LA will even get closer to -2. But a failed layup from Westbrook, a stray ball from Powell will get the better of this improbable comeback…
— The Suns impose themselves but without imposing. After their thundering 3rd quarter, we could have expected a one-way final quarter, to complete their work with style and panache. But nothing happened and the Suns somehow hinted at their still many weaknesses. Like a Durant very little used, a Chris Paul still borrowed in attack and quite simply a mental still far too friable (especially given the talent accumulated in the five major), Phoenix lacked ” killer instinct” which will have to be demonstrated against the Nuggets, seeded n ° 1, in the next round.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Devin Booker. His masterful third quarter (25 points at 10/11 on shots) could have been enough to make his match, for any other NBA player. But Booker is clearly a special case! The Suns series scorer hit hard to close the series, with 47 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. He suddenly became the Suns player with the most games at 30 points and over and 40 points and over in Suns history, ahead of Charles Barkley, who congratulated him over microphones from his TV set.
✅ Kevin Durant. The superstar winger will not have seen too much leather in the last quarter (only 2 shots attempted, and successful), but he still ends up with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, thanks in particular to his 13 points in the 3rd quarter a little forgotten in the offensive torrent of the Suns.
✅ DeAndre Ayton. He will not have had to force too much but Ayton did indeed chain a fourth double double in a row in his series against the Clippers, and the plumpest to finish with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Effective near the circle and
✅⛔Russell Westbrook. Still as voluntary with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, Russell Westbrook unfortunately missed a lot (3/18 on shots). The fatigue of the sequence of matches for the veteran? Probable because we saw him miss a bunch of rather easy layups in the rush and his constant burst of energy.
⛔ Eric Gordon. Since his match 1 to 19 points, it’s been a total hassle for the veteran rear who drank the chalice to the dregs last night. Yet established, Gordon finally spent only 21 minutes on the boards, his lowest total in the series, for only 3 points and 3 assists. A disavowal.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 1 between the Suns And the nuggets in the conference semi-finals this Saturday.
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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.
