After a night to forget just a day ago, Devin Booker made the second match in two nights against the Los Angeles Clippers personal. The point guard, a perfect thermometer of how bipolar these Suns can be, quickly regrouped to command his team’s 108-124 victory, a result that keeps them just half a game behind the Pelicans in the fight for the last of the positions that give direct access to the playoffs in the West.
Booker reached 37 points, 12 of which came in the decisive fourth quarter. Even though Tyronn Lue left all his important men on the bench and played with an arsenal of substitutes, the Angelenos came to rule the fourth quarter and threaten to take the win, but that was when Devin responded. The shooting guard, who shot 13/24, commanded the 26-4 run with which the Arizona team saved the ballot and turned a duel that had been difficult for them into a comfortable victory.
However, despite the final tranquility, it does not seem like great news that Vogel’s team suffered so much to defeat the Clippers without Kawhi, George, Harden, Westbrook, Zubac and Powell. And even less considering that the Suns’ Big 3 was present, and in fact at a good level. With 26 and 24 points from Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant respectively, the three stars combined for a total of 87 points, and the truth is that practically all of them were necessary to avoid the debacle.
Bones Hyland was largely responsible for this, because with his 37 points and 9 assists he kept the Clippers with much more life than expected. The point guard once again showed the talent that was intuited in Denver, and, supported by the 26 points of Brandon Boston Jr., he was close to giving a blow that would have mathematically confirmed the fourth position of Tyronn Lue’s team in the West.
This one is still in their hand, but, after Dallas’ victory in Miami, they will have to earn it on the court. Only one victory separates both teams with two games remaining, and although the Clippers have the peace of mind of having the tiebreaker in their favor, the Mavs do not seem willing to let them relax.
Lakers and Warriors will play play-in
Indirectly, this clash also had an impact on two other teams, as it certified that both the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers will have to go through the play-in to be in the playoffs. This, which seemed inevitable, has been mathematically confirmed with the victory of Phoenix, which, like New Orleans, can be equaled but not surpassed in the standings by the two Californian franchises.
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(Cover photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
2024-04-11 07:00:00
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