Suns 130 vs 103 Clippers: scores, summary, stats, highlights | NBA Playoff
The Phoenix Suns are going to the NBA Finals for the first time in 23 years, after knocking off the Clippers 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals. Chris Paul was unstoppable in the second half as he led his side to a 130-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Biggest win of series in close out game
The first three Phoenix wins the series came by a combined total of 11 points. In Game 6 the Suns bounced back after losing a potential close out game at home Monday night, with their second largest margin of victory in this years playoffs. The biggest win for the Suns came in a Game 5 of the first round match up with the Lakers.
It wasn’t the easiest of series for Chris Paul, who sat out the first two games of the Conference Finals after testing positive for Covid after the Nuggets series. He struggled to find his stroke shooting the basketball, while the Suns looked patchy on the offensive end at time.
Paul with a second half to remember
Paul put the doubts in the rearview coming into Wednesday’s Game 6 at the Staples Center. The Phoenix point guard hit two three pointers to begin the game, showing a preview of what to come. The Suns hit five of seven threes in the first quarter to jump out to an eight point lead.
The Suns had the advantage for the entire first half, while holding Paul George to just 6 points in the opening two quarters. Role players kept the Clippers in the game over the first 24 minutes, Marcus Morris had 13, while Reggie Jackson, Patrick Beverley and Demarcus Cousins posted double digits to keep the Suns lead within single digits.
Phoenix pushed the lead to 17 points early in the third quarter. It was the largest lead they had to that point in the series, but it was short lived. A 10-0 run from the Clippers tightened the game momentarily, but after the Suns called a timeout Chris Paul took over.
Third quarter Suns run put series to bed
Paul went on a personal 8-0 run on his way to scoring 16 of the next 18 Suns points. Phoenix never looked back after going on the third quarter. Chris Paul waited until the perfect moment to explode in this series. He scored 31 points in the second half as the Suns went up by double digits at the end of the third. CP3 and the Suns continued the barrage in the fourth quarter to cruise to the 27 point series clinching victory.
Paul finished with 41 points and eight assists. Devin Booker, who played the majority of the game without his protective face mask, scored 22 and Jae Crowder had some timely buckets in the first three quarters ending the night with 19 points.
The wait is over for Paul
After 16 years in the NBA, Paul is going to the NBA Finals. He came to the Phoenix franchise in the offseason and immediately changed the culture of the team. The Suns had were on a 10 year playoff drought before this season, and now they are on their way the the Championship round. This marks the first time in NBA history a franchise has missed the playoffs for that long and on their return they go straight to the Finals.
The Suns will now enjoy a few days off, and await an opponent in the title series. Milwaukee and Atlanta are tied at 2-2, with the series heading back to Wisconsin. The date of Game 1 will be determined when the Eastern Conference Finals comes to a close.
The Phoenix Suns are going to the NBA Finals for the first time in 23 years, after knocking off the Clippers 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals. Chris Paul was unstoppable in the second half as he led his side to a 130-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Biggest win of series in close out game
The first three Phoenix wins the series came by a combined total of 11 points. In Game 6 the Suns bounced back after losing a potential close out game at home Monday night, with their second largest margin of victory in this years playoffs. The biggest win for the Suns came in a Game 5 of the first round match up with the Lakers.
It wasn’t the easiest of series for Chris Paul, who sat out the first two games of the Conference Finals after testing positive for Covid after the Nuggets series. He struggled to find his stroke shooting the basketball, while the Suns looked patchy on the offensive end at time.
Paul with a second half to remember
Paul put the doubts in the rearview coming into Wednesday’s Game 6 at the Staples Center. The Phoenix point guard hit two three pointers to begin the game, showing a preview of what to come. The Suns hit five of seven threes in the first quarter to jump out to an eight point lead.
The Suns had the advantage for the entire first half, while holding Paul George to just 6 points in the opening two quarters. Role players kept the Clippers in the game over the first 24 minutes, Marcus Morris had 13, while Reggie Jackson, Patrick Beverley and Demarcus Cousins posted double digits to keep the Suns lead within single digits.
Phoenix pushed the lead to 17 points early in the third quarter. It was the largest lead they had to that point in the series, but it was short lived. A 10-0 run from the Clippers tightened the game momentarily, but after the Suns called a timeout Chris Paul took over.
Third quarter Suns run put series to bed
Paul went on a personal 8-0 run on his way to scoring 16 of the next 18 Suns points. Phoenix never looked back after going on the third quarter. Chris Paul waited until the perfect moment to explode in this series. He scored 31 points in the second half as the Suns went up by double digits at the end of the third. CP3 and the Suns continued the barrage in the fourth quarter to cruise to the 27 point series clinching victory.
Paul finished with 41 points and eight assists. Devin Booker, who played the majority of the game without his protective face mask, scored 22 and Jae Crowder had some timely buckets in the first three quarters ending the night with 19 points.
The wait is over for Paul
After 16 years in the NBA, Paul is going to the NBA Finals. He came to the Phoenix franchise in the offseason and immediately changed the culture of the team. The Suns had were on a 10 year playoff drought before this season, and now they are on their way the the Championship round. This marks the first time in NBA history a franchise has missed the playoffs for that long and on their return they go straight to the Finals.
The Suns will now enjoy a few days off, and await an opponent in the title series. Milwaukee and Atlanta are tied at 2-2, with the series heading back to Wisconsin. The date of Game 1 will be determined when the Eastern Conference Finals comes to a close.
What a performance for Chris Paul. After 16 years trying, he steps up in the second half and scores 31 of his 41 points in the final two quarter.
It's all over from LA. The Phoenix Suns are going back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years!!
Oturu at the line, gets one of two to go.
Carter hits the mid range jumper.
Coffey hits the close range effort in the paint.
Smith gets the dunk down low.
Moore gets the pull up off the bench.
Under 2 to go in the 4th.
Paul for three, and he can't stop scoring. 41 points
George and Jackson headed to the bench, and the Clippers look like they are waving the white flag.
3 minutes to go in the fourth.
Mann gets the easy bucket off the lob
Kennard gets a three ball to drop
Booker gets the floater off the glass to go.
George with the three ball.
Beverley has been ejected from the game after the review.
Timeout Clippers with 5:49 to go in the fourth. In the break, Beverley comes from behind Paul and pushes him to the ground. Refs will review.
Paul on the pull three from the top of the key!!! He's got 37!!!
Paul with another floater.
Ayton on the floater off the dribble.
7:19 to go in the 4th.
Paul off the dribble, drills the three and fouled by Jackson. FT is good to get the four point play
George on the pull up jumper from a step inside the three point line.
Booker on the runner from outside the lane.
Morris to the line, hits two of two.
Morris drops the three off the feed from George.
Paul with another pull up jumper from the elbow! Timeout Clippers with 9:39 to go in the fourth quarter.
Paul on the behind the back move on the baseline, hits the jumper.
Paul on the drive from the right hand side.
Cousins goes strong to the rack, gets the foul and the bucket, but misses the FT.
Ayton gets the hook shot out of the quarter change.
The third quater comes to an end with the Suns up 14
Paul from downtown!!
Technical foul for Marcus Cousins after the review. Paul goes to the line and misses the technical FT.
Under a minute to go in the third, the refs are back at the review table after Cousins elbow may have come in contact with the face of Chris Paul
Paul shakes off Cousins, gets the finger roll to go.
Paul left wide open, hits the three out of the TO break.
Batum in the corner for three!!! 10-0 run for the Clippers. Suns timeout with 1:43 to go in the third quarter.
2 minutes to go in the third.
Morris drops the spot up three in transition
George to the line, gets two of two to go.
Batum on the back door cut.
Bridges gets the lay up in the transition off the feed from Craig. Timeout Clippers with 4:01 to play in the third.
Booker gets into the paint and hits the floater.
George fouled on the drive, hits two of two. He's got 13
Craig strings a three from the top of the key.
5:10 to go in the third quarter.
Morris on the FT line pull up jumper
Bridges on the cut to the basket down the middle of the lane, gets the lay up to go.
Morris goes to the line, gets one of two to drop.
Booker on the jam, driving down the middle!!! Biggest lead of the game for the Suns. Timeout LA with 6:58 to go in the third, Booker to the line after the timeout.
Paul on the floater in the middle of the paint. He's got 14.
George on the pull up jump from the post
Under 8 to go in the third
Bridges to the rack gets the acrobatic finish to go, gets fouled and converts the three point play.
Mann fouled by Crowder, that's his fourth foul and he will go to the bench with 19 points. Mann hits one of two .
Ayton down low in traffic
George to the line gets both to go.
Crowder deep in the corner from three point range.
MOrris on the up and under close to the rim
Paul on the midrange pull up.
Jackson hits both FTs at the line.
The foul stands, George goes to the line, and hits one of two.
Quick timeout for the Suns who are challenging the foul called against Bridges on the George jumper.
We are back in play for the second half of Game 6 from the Staples Center.
The Suns are shooting 55% from the field and have hit 10 of 17 threes
Morris had another big first half, with 13 points, Jackson and Beverley both have 11, Cousins has 10 but George has just 6.
Crowder has 16, Booker has 14.
Crowder, Booker, Ayton and Paul are all in double digits going to the break.
The first half comes to a close with the Suns up by 9.
Crowder with ANOTHER THREE!! 16 points for Crowder
Under a minute to go in the half.
Ayton to the line, misses two of two.
The refs rule it to be a common foul.
Ayton gets fouled by Beverley, refs will review to determine if it was a flagrant.
Morris answers with a three ball
Crowder from three point range. He's got 13
Morris hits a deep two from the top of the horn.
Crowder to the line, hits both. Under 3 to go in the second quarter.
Crowder downlow off the inbound pass from the baseline.
Booker on the pull up, gets the bucket and the foul, and hits the FT.
Beverley to the line after the Crowder foul, hits two of two.
Crowder in the corner for three.
Jackson gets the foul and the floater off the bank. Goes to the line and hits the FT
Booker on the drive and dunk down the right side.
Batum to the line, after the Crowder foul in transition. Batum gets two of two.
Beverley off the cross over, gets to the basket and finishes of the glass.
Paul with the floater in the lane.
Morris spots up from downtown
Morris from the corner gets the jumper over Paul
Saric goes to the line after the Morris foul. That's the first Clippers foul all night with 8:10 to go in the second quarter. One of two FTs good.
George on the drive after the offensive rebound.
Morris gets one of two from the line.
Payne on the quick drive, finishing with the left hand, and the Suns have the largest lead of the first half. Timeout Clippers with 9:14 to go in the second quarter.
Saric bangs in another triple
Paul gets the mid range pull up jumper to go.
Cousins fouled by Payne, gets twon of two to go from the FT line.
Saric hits a three from the top of the key.
Mann of the follow of the Cousins miss
Payne with the jumper from the left side.
Cousins gets to the line and hits two of two.
The Suns hit five of seven threes in the first quarter.
The first quarter comes to a close from the Staples Center. The Suns were up by as many as 8. Ayton leads all scorers with 10. Booker has 9, and Beverley has 8.
Cousins beats the buzzer with a fall away three off the bank!
Ayton gets the tap in off the lob from Booker
Jackson drains the three from the left side
Booker on a step back three from the top of the key.
Cousins from the top of the key, gets the three to drop
Booker pulls up from the elbow
Payne from the top of the key
Timeoun at the Staples Center with 2:23 to go in the first quarter
Ayton gets the bucket to go under the basket.
Booker on the step back jumper
Batum banks it home after coming off the bench.
Jackson from downtown.
Ayton down low again. He's got 6, and that's a good sign for the Suns.
George drives and lays it off the glass
Ayton again on the jump hook
Morris over Ayton from the baseline jumper.
Jackson out of the timeout and right to the iron, gets the lay up off the glass
Timeout LA with 6:44 to go in the first quarter
Paul with a second straight three ball
Paul sinks a three on the other end.
Beverley from downtown, he's got 7 points already
Ayton with a jump hook in the lane.
George going coast to coast of the Suns turnover.
Beverley gets an easy bucket going right down main street.
Booker slashing to the rack from half court gets the lay up to go
Crowder in the corner for three from the far side.
Beverley spins and gets the floater in the lane.
Paul finds Bridges on the alley oop for the games first bucket.
We are underway from LA
No Zubac for the Clippers
Booker is starting the game with no mask
The teams are being announced over the loud speaker at Staples Center, and we are just about set for tip off of Game 6 on the Western Conference Finals.
Ty Lue is 10-2 in eliminations games. Incredible numbers for the Clippers coach.
According to Bet365.com the Suns are one point favorites coming into tonight's Game 6, with the Over/Under set at 214.5. The bookmakers don't see too much between these two team tonight.
Ivivca Zubac is listed as questionable for the Clippers tonight, after sitting out the last game with a knee injury.
Suns coach Monty Williams was disappointed with the way his team came out in the first quarter of last game
"The desperation has to be there. That's the deal, Just because you have a lead in the series doesn't mean you can show up and they're going to give it to you. We have to understand that, and I think we do now. We will be better when we show up the next time we play.
"That's how we're built. We're built for this moment and we're not afraid of it," said.Clippers big man Demarcus Cousins "We're OK with our backs against the wall. I think that's when we come out and show our best."
Remeber, the Clippers are looking to make their third straight comeback in a series which they found themselves in an 0-2 hole.
The Suns have a chance to get back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993 with a win tonight.
The Clippers are staring down the face of elimination yet again, but they have thrived with their backs against the wall this season.
Cam Johnson has been ruled out for tonight's game with a non-Covid related illness. He had 14 ponts last game, and is a big addition for Pheonix coming off the bench
The Clippers return to the Staples Center and will be without Kawhi Leonard for yet another game. He has been out with a sprianed right knee since Game 5 of the second round
The Clippers are facing yet another elimination game, this will be their fourth one this post season. How many lives do they have left?
We are at the Staples Center for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Suns and the Clippers. Tip off is set for just under an hour from now.
Hello everyone and welcome to the Staples Center for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. AS English will be providing live coverage, updates, stats and scores of tonight’s pivotal game from Los Angeles where the Clippers will be hosting Phoenix Suns.
Clippers staring down elimination again
For the second straight game the Clippers will be facing elimination, but this time they will be playing at home. Tonight will mark the fourth time Los Angeles are facing a lose and go home situation. They came back from a 3-2 deficit against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and showed their resilience on Monday night in Phoenix yet again.
Paul George was sensational in the must win game in Arizona, scoring 41 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. George set a personal playoff best in the biggest game of his career, and the biggest game of the Clippers season.
Kawahi missed last game, out for tonight too
For the seventh straight game Kawhi Leonard was unavailable, so too was Ivica Zubac who was having a fantastic series up until being sidelined with a knee injury. George’s help had to come from elsewhere in Game 5. With Zubac out Marcus Morris filled into the starting 5. The former Kansas Jayhawk had a brilliant first half scoring 20 points while sinking his first six shots from the field. Morris finished the game with 22 points.
Reggie Jackson capped the game off with an eight point run in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach for the Suns. Jackson went 4 for 7 from downtown and finished the game with 23 points.
Booker struggling from field since breaking nose
Devin Booker had a game high 31 points, but struggled from the field since breaking his nose in the Game 2. Chris Paul posted 22 points of 8 of 19 shooting, but the Suns are struggling to find the consistency they with Paul before he tested positive with Covid.
Leonard will not play in tonight's game at the Staples Center, and Zubac has been listed as questionable.
Suns looking for NBA Finals return
The Suns will have another chance to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals with a win tonight, while the Clippers look to stave off elimination for a fourth time this post season. The Suns haven’t reached the championship round since 1993.
Game 6 tip off from the Staples Center is set for 9 pm ET/6 PT.