The Phoenix Suns started the game at a very slow pace, but led 15-0 in the third quarter, leading 77-68.
But Kawhi Leonard wouldn’t let it los angeles clippers Walked away and was the best player on the floor all night. But eventually Russell Westbrook made a timely defensive play and the Clippers stave off the Suns in Phoenix.
Clippers win, 115-110.
Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points in 42 minutes. His shot through a tight defense was great. The Clippers recorded 14 offensive rebounds and he had 10 extra shots, including killer shots in the final minutes of the 3rd and 4th quarters.
Suns’ Kevin Durant had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Devin Booker added his 26 points and he added 3 assists. Torrey Craig was great in his role, adding 22 points and forcing Kawhi to take some very tough shots (he just made them) Chris he’s on pole he’s 8 out of 10 He had 10 assists and 11 rebounds.
first half
The Suns scored open threes on their first three possessions and missed them all, but showed how they can shoot against the Clippers defense. Corner threes and transition threes are best. Finally on the fourth possession, Paul threw in Ayton through Russell Westbrook for a jam and the fans were able to take their seats.
Note that Durant spent the first few minutes standing on the wing, touching the ball only once on a catch-and-shoot and once in transition.
The Clippers shot 6-of-11, including a 3-on 3-4, to take a 16-10 lead. The Clippers’ Eric Gordon started this game making 4-of-5 shots against 10 of his 16 points for the Clippers. The Suns, on the other hand, made only 4 of 11 shots, even though nearly all of them were wide open. Or rather, fully open. Time out, Sans.
A Devin Booker layup pulled the Suns back 20-17, but the fact that this was just their second shot at the rim in 18 shots made so far stunned them. Everything else was a jumper. Of course, there will be some variability. That explains his 7-19 start in shooting. 2-2 within 3 feet. 17 to 5 beyond that.
When the Suns lost 30-18 one quarter later, there was a lot of “oh no” vibes about this team’s inability to overcome playoff fatigue. You have to work to win. Whoever reaches out has no chance of winning.
The Suns outscored the Clippers 35-24 to close out the quarter. It wasn’t a huge blow, but it was enough to bring him back to 5 points with a manageable deficit. 59-54 at halftimeKevin Durant scored 17 points in the second quarter.
Latter half
The Suns started the second half with more purpose. Instead of the momentum they showed in the final minutes of the second quarter, they had more purpose and focus than they did at the start of the game.
Still, the Clippers offset Russell Westbrook’s terrible shooting (now 2-for-13) with offensive rebounds to keep the Clippers possession alive longer than it should have and partially retain the lead.
The Suns eventually tied the score at 68–68 with seven minutes left in the third quarter and took the lead with a go-ahead layup to Tory Craig from Chris Paul’s offensive rebound. Devin Booker is now at 22 points and he has made five of his last six shots. Craig currently has up to 16 points on 7-10 shooting. He’s been really great with this and made Kawhi Leonard work hard to get his shot at single coverage.
After Chris Paul created his own patented Midi to put the Suns up 74-68 and the Clippers forced another timeout, the lead jumped to 6 on Ayton Midi. Craig’s three put the Suns up 77-68 before a Russell Westbrook layup broke the Suns’ 15-0 run.
The Clippers slipped back after missing four free throws late in the third quarter (two by Randale and two by Booker). They tied the game at his 79-79 and put Durant back on the court to close out the quarter.
The Suns and Clippers tied 3-81-81.
Kawhi Leonard, who has played 32 of the 36 minutes so far, started No. 4 with Midi on and 1 to give the Clippers an 84-81 lead. Durant equalized on Second Chance 3 a minute later. The Clippers scored his two downs next to lead 88-84.
Leonard eventually sat in the half for the first time with 9:52 left in third with 30 points and an 88-86 lead. He sat out his 2.5 minutes, but the Suns were unable to take the lead. In fact, it was the 95-92 Clippers when Kawhi checked in.
The Suns didn’t control the game until halfway through the 4th quarter, despite Kevin Durant being incredible overall, and they were nearing a triple-double of 24 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
Chris Paul is only 2 of 6 off the field (although he has 8 assists and 9 rebounds). On the bench he is only 3 out of 10.
With 5:32 remaining in the fourth, the Suns are down 97-96.
Russell Westbrook scored a block from behind Ayton and poked it off Devin Booker on the Suns’ next two possessions and the Clipping used a three-point play to take a 100-96 lead. Torrey Craig responded with a three-point play of his own off a steal from Devin Booker to make it 100-99.
The Suns played very good defense to stop the Clippers from scoring, but were unable to make their own shots.Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton missed the open midi.
Then the Clippers hit three straight 3s to take a 109-103 lead with less than 1:30 left before Kevin Durant shot (he had just 15 in one night, versus Leonard’s 23). ) and exhausted 3.
Chris Paul’s two free throws made the Suns 109-108 with 1:08 remaining.
However, on the next possession the Suns failed to get a defensive rebound, giving LA three separate cracks, the rebounds ricocheting out of bounds from the Suns each time. With 28.8 seconds remaining, the Suns are one down. And the Clippers still have the ball.
Westbrook, who missed 16 of 19 shots, hit two free throws with 17.7 seconds remaining, draining them both. of course. Suns down 3 with 17.7 seconds remaining. He then blocked Devin Booker on a drive and knocked him out of the Suns.
game.
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