The Phoenix Suns are shifting on to the following spherical after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in Sport 5, 136-130, thanks partly 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 workforce’s factors in that quarter in what was a unbelievable efficiency by the dynamic guard.
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts through the second quarter towards the LA Clippers in recreation 5 of the Western Convention First Spherical Playoffs at Footprint Heart on April 25, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)
Booker completed the sport with a game-high 47 factors, with 10 assists and simply two rebounds shy of amassing a triple-double.
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Understanding {that a} loss ends their season, the Clippers didn’t roll over after the powerful 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 lower 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.
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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 created from the road as effectively. Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 16 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Marcus Morris Sr. dropped 12 factors as effectively.
Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball through the recreation towards the LA Clippers throughout Spherical 1 Sport 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023, at Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE through Getty Photos)
Russell Westbrook had a brutal night time taking pictures for the Clippers, hitting simply three of his 18 photographs, although he made 7-of-8 from the charity stripe to salvage his 14 factors. He had eight rebounds and eight assists as effectively.
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 pressured him to overlook all the sequence. Leonard additionally suffered a knee damage in Sport 1 and he reaggravated it after enjoying although in Sport 2. The Clippers ended up shutting him down in Sport 3.
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots a free throw through the recreation towards the LA Clippers throughout Spherical 1 Sport 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023, at Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE through Getty Photos)
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Whereas the Clippers will hope they’ll get better 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 effectively to advance.
