Updated:25/06/2021 09:44h
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On a nightmare night for Devin Booker and Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers beat this Thursday 106-92 to the Phoenix Suns and they approached 2-1 in the final of the NBA western conference. From the hand of Paul GeorgeWith 27 points and 15 rebounds, the Clippers achieved the first triumph in their history in a conference final without their great star, the injured Kawhi Leonard.
The victory in front of their fans prevented the Suns from taking a 3-0 lead that no franchise has ever overcome. «This team is tough. We will do whatever it takes, ”said Paul George. “We trust each other. We cover our backs.
Based on defensive intensity, the Los Angeles team managed to dry the two stars of the Suns, a team that had nine consecutive victories since the first round in which they eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers, the current champions.
Suns vs Clippers: Tercer partido
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Between listening Devin Booker (15 points), who played with a mask for a blow to the nose in the second game, and veteran Chris Paul (15) barely made 10 shots of 40 attempts. The Los Angeles team was already the only team in history to come back from two 2-0 deficits in the same playoffs (against Mavericks and Jazz) and Thursday’s victory allows them to dream of a third “miracle.”
The Clippers will try to even the series on Saturday again at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where it is unknown if they will be able to count on Kawhi Leonard, who suffers a knee sprain. The Suns, on the other hand, already have Chris Paul back after 11 days out of the protocols against the coronavirus. “I felt good going out to play. Now we have some business to finish, ”said Paul, 36. “They just outgrew us. They had much more energy. «I have to play much better. I have to pick up the pace. I have played fatally, “acknowledged the point guard, who said that during his quarantine he could hardly practice on the court of his home.
The point guard, who was key in the tie against the Nuggets with averages of 25.5 points and 10.3 rebounds, was greeted with boos on the court where he played six seasons in the Clippers uniform (2011-17), a time of lights but also very painful shadows in the playoffs.
To turn the tide of the tie, the Clippers applied various adjustments on defense and placed the fierce Patrick Beverley on Devin Booker. With very aggressive markings, the Clippers managed to dry Booker and Paul, who did not score a single point between them in the first quarter.
The Los Angeles team took advantage of the Suns’ lack of accuracy in the first quarter (37% in field goals) to take a 29-21 lead, the largest they had enjoyed so far in the entire series. With Booker visibly uncomfortable in the mask, the Suns were still very erratic on pitch but the Clippers had a hard time taking advantage of that opportunity to distance themselves on the scoreboard.
Sin Kawhi Leonard, who followed the game with his family in a box, the Los Angeles team only has one other great offensive talent, Paul George, who continues to pull the car on the track determined to reach his first Finals. “I’m going to make the extra plays,” George said. I don’t care how many minutes I have to play. I’m going to leave everything on the track ».
Reggie Jackson, with 23 points, and the Croatian pivot Ivica Zubac, with 15 points and 16 rebounds, they assisted Paul in the Los Angeles attack on Thursday. The Suns entered the halftime with a two-point lead (48-46). With the water up to their necks, the Clippers came out of the locker room determined to tie up their first win and chained a 25-8 run that gave them room for maneuver for the final stretch.
The young man Terance Mann, Qualifying hero against the Jazz, he appeared to score 10 points in the third quarter that uncorked an offensive barrage from the Clippers. The Los Angeles team just unhinged Booker, who had a run-in with Beverley that led to double technique and a step down the bench, and Chris Paul, who also sat down after a strong protest to the referees.
A spectacular triple from midfield by Paul George on the horn of the third quarter gave the Clippers the green light for a strong acceleration to reach an 18-point lead (89-71).
Although the Suns came within six points, neither Booker nor Paul could overcome their disastrous night and the Clippers ended up feasting on their morale-building crowd for Game 4 on Saturday.
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