[ad_1]
The Phoenix Suns are transferring on to the next round after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in Recreation 5, 136-130, thanks partially to Devin Booker’s fabulous efficiency in entrance of a house crowd.
The Suns had been down 9 factors when the primary half buzzer rang out, however nothing a 50-point third quarter couldn’t repair.
Phoenix was unconscious when play resumed, and it primarily got here from Booker, who had half of the staff’s factors in that quarter in what was a incredible efficiency by the dynamic guard.
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts throughout the second quarter towards the LA Clippers in sport 5 of the Western Convention First Spherical Playoffs at Footprint Heart on April 25, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs)
Booker completed the sport with a game-high 47 factors, with 10 assists and simply two rebounds shy of gathering a triple-double.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Understanding {that a} loss ends their season, the Clippers didn’t roll over after the robust third quarter the place they had been outscored at one level 29-7. They pulled inside three factors after Nicolas Batum buried a 27-foot three with 3:19 left to play within the fourth quarter, 128-125.
LA would minimize the result in simply two factors, however after Norman Powell turned the ball over, Kevin Durant flushed a six-footer to make it 134-130, simply sufficient cushion to shut issues out. He would hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to maneuver the result in six, which was the dagger.
Durant ended his night time with 31 factors on 10-of-19 taking pictures with six rebounds and 4 assists. Heart Deandre Ayton additionally offered a double-double with 21 factors and 11 rebounds, whereas veteran level guard Chris Paul had 15 factors and 7 assists.
For the Clippers, Powell was the chief in factors with 27 on 8-of-17 from the ground with 8-of-10 comprised of the road as properly. Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 16 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Marcus Morris Sr. dropped 12 factors as properly.
Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball throughout the sport towards the LA Clippers throughout Spherical 1 Recreation 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023, at Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
Russell Westbrook had a brutal night time taking pictures for the Clippers, hitting simply three of his 18 pictures, although he made 7-of-8 from the charity stripe to salvage his 14 factors. He had eight rebounds and eight assists as properly.
In Los Angeles’ protection, it didn’t assist that their two star gamers, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, have been out a lot of the sequence.
George has been coping with a sprained knee that compelled him to overlook all the sequence. Leonard additionally suffered a knee damage in Recreation 1 and he reaggravated it after enjoying although in Recreation 2. The Clippers ended up shutting him down in Recreation 3.
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw throughout the sport towards the LA Clippers throughout Spherical 1 Recreation 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023, at Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Whereas the Clippers will hope they will recuperate this offseason, the Suns now transfer on to face the top-seeded Denver Nuggets within the second spherical. They defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday as properly to advance.
[ad_2]
Source link
