Los Angeles Clippers 109 vs 123 Phoenix Suns live online: stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 2
The Phoenix Suns came into Game 2 with their backs against the wall after losing the opener to the Los Angeles Clippers at home. They bounced back with a crucial win at the Footprint Center on Tuesday night thanks to 38 points from Devin Booker in the 123-109 victory.
Westbrook vs. KD is first half
Game 1 was the first time the Suns had lost a game with Kevin Durant healthy and on the floor, and Phoenix made sure they wouldn’t allow two straight wins against the league’s newest three headed monster. Each of the Suns’ Big Three had their moments in this game.
Durant got off to the hot start in the first half scoring 16 of his 25 in the opening 24 minutes, although Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard came out firing for the Clippers and had the visitors up by as many as 13 in the second quarter. Westbrook had 17 in the first half to help build that lead up after a 3/19 shooting performance in Game 1.
Westbrook would finish the game with 28 points and Leonard had 31, although the Suns contained him for the most part late in the game. Phoenix took control of the game in the final minutes of the second quarter when they went on a 9-2 run to end the first half after a Devin Booker hit a three to tie the game up at 59-59.
Booker closes out Clips
That run would stretch into the third quarter and they piled up a 23-4 scoring stretch to take a 10 point lead just after half in large part because DeAndre Ayton got hot from the field after scoring just 2 points in the first half. Ayton would get himself into foul trouble and have to head to the bench with more than six minutes left in the third.
That was Devin Booker’s cue to take the game over. He went 7/7 seven to start the half and had 18 points in the third quarter as the Suns took the lead and didn’t give it back. Leonard tried to carry the Clips with his 31 points, but the Suns three pronged attack was too much for LA in Game 2.
After Booker’s sensational third quarter, Chris Paul would seal the game with eight late points and guide Phoenix to the Game 2 win in which he had 16 and 8 assists.
That sets up a pivotal Game 3 on Thursday night from the Crypto.com Arena as the Clippers head back home.
Two games in and this is anybodies series. Don't be surprised if we see Suns and the Clips go the distance.
Booker ended the night with 38 points, 25 of those came in the second half. after going 7/7 for 18 in the third quarter.
Book broke loose in the third quarter, but it was Paul who sealed it in the fourth. He had 8 big points with the game in the balance and shut the door on the Clippers late on.
Craig could not miss from downtown on Tuesday. He was 5/8 from deep in his 17 point effort in Game 2.
The Suns would continue the run in the second half, outscoring the Clippers 23-4 from the end of the first second quarter to the start of the third.
Ayton went to the bench with four fouls early in the third, but Booker came to the rescue catching fire in the third quarter.
Ayton couldn't be stopped coming out of the second quarter. It didn't stop the Clips from building up a 13 point lead that would quickly disappear.
KD might be in Phoenix, but this is still Devin Booker's team. He proved that on Tuesday night.
Torey Craig was the perfect compliment to the Suns Big Three, hitting 5 threes in Game 2 to finish with 17 points.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE SUNS EVEN THE SERIES THANKS TO A HUGE SECOND HALF FROM DEVIN BOOKER!!
Booker had 38 points, 25 of those coming in the second half.
Biyombo on the put back, following his own miss.
Paul puts Zubac on skates and pulls up from the top of the key to ice this game!
Timeout LA with 2:00 to go.
Slip pass to Ayton from Paul and he gets the lay up to drop! The lead is back to 10!
Paul drills the mid range jumper and the Suns have killed the Clips from the midrange.
Westbrook hits the second FT out of the timeout with 3 minute to go.
Westbrook at the line after the foul on Booker and he hits one FT before the Suns take a timeout.
Kawhi drills a three ball to keep the Clips in this game with under 4 to go.
Zubac to the ilne and he misses both and Craig goes right to the rack and finishes with the reverse!
Fadeaway from the FT line from KD out of the timeout!
Powell penetrates and hits the left handed lay up to force the Suns to take a timeout with 4:45 left in the fourth.
Leonard at the line after the foul in transition by Paul and he hits both FTs.
Booker drills another three off the pull up and he's been on fire in this second half!!
Leonard hits the elbow jumper and the Clips are making one last run!
Westbrook with the give and go out of the timeout and he lays it up off the glass.
KD pulls up and dishes it off to Okogie underneath for the open lay up!
LA calls a timeout with under 7 to go!
Powell at the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Booker.
Booker on the mid range pull up and is can not stop scoring!
Kawhi pulls up from the top of the key and he hits the jumper from inside the arc.
Booker hits the short pull up and he continues his hot shooting spell in this second half.
Westbrook crashing the glass after the Hyland missed three and he gets the tip in to go and the foul! FT is good to complete the three point play!
Durant got fouled on one end after Westbrook missed the dunk. He hits both FTs after the foul on Hyland.
Okogie to the line after the foul on Mann and he hits both FTs.
Powell got fouled by Okogie and he hits both FTs.
Paul pulls up again and he's got back to back buckets to put the Suns back up by double digits!
Timeout Clippers with under 10 to play!
Paul pulls up and hits the fade away as the shot clock buzzer sounded!
Biyombo follows his miss and get the hook shot on the put back.
We are at the end of a third quarter that saw the Suns get hot, especially Devin Booker who had 18 of his 31 after the break.
Everything started to change after Ayton picked up his fourth foul, and PHO stretched their lead to 10.
Hyland going at the bucket and gets the finger roll off the glass to fall.
Booker nails a three ball and he's going to end this quarter 7/7 for 18 points!
Leonard at the line after the foul on Okogie and he hits both FTs.
Mann going at Booker and gets the finger roll to drop from the left side.
Booker at the line after the foul on Mann and he hits both FTs.
Durant sends Hyland to the line and he hits both FTs with under two minutes to go in the third quarter.
Booker jump stops and hits the jumper over Plumlee!
Turnaround floater from Leonard in the lane and he's got 20!
Booker hits the baseline jumper off the inbound and he's got 11 of his 24 in the quarter.
Durant goes to the line after the foul on Zubac and he spilts the pair.
Zubac hits the second FT out of the TO.
Zubac at the line and he hits one FT before the Suns take a timeout with 3:25 to go in the fourth quarter.
Craig had time to line up his three in the corner and he strokes three ball number 5 of the night!
Powell slicing down the lane and lays it up in traffic!
Westbrook releases for the easy lay up after the outlet from Powell.
Booker gets the floater to go in the lane.
Gordon with back to back threes and he's starting to warm up!
Paul from the baseline hitting the jumper from the midrange.
Zubac down low and he takes it up and over KD for the lay up off the glass.
Durant pulls up from the baseline and he hits the jumper over Leonard!
Gordon with a timely three to silence this Footprint Center crowd!
Ayton just picked up his fourth foul with over 6 minutes to go in the third.
Fadeaway jumper on the catch and shoot off the glass from KD and the lead is back to 10!
Westbrook at the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Ayton.
Craig strokes a three ball in the corner and he's got 4 from behind the line tonight!
Booker pulls the trigger off the dribble and drill the three ball!
Leonard snaps the 17-2 Suns run dating with a tough floater in traffic.
Booker with the strip and the slam and the Suns start the half with a 6-0 run!
LAC need a timeout with 10:16 to go in the third quarter.
Paul with the fader from outside the lane and the Suns are starting hot out of the gate!
Booker puts the Suns up on a floater in the lane to start the third.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION IN PHOENIX!!!
Ayton started the 2nd hot, hitting four quick FGs and he had 10 of his 12 in the second quarter.
LA would go up as many as 13 in the first quarter, but the Suns battled back in the final 3:30 of the half to close the gap.
Kawhi can do it on both ends, and showed that on this steal and slam. He's got 16,5 and 6 assists though 2 quarters.
KD and Russ' relationship isn't exactly friendly and you know Westbrook loved getting this block on KD. His defense has been a difference maker in the first half and was a difference maker in the first game.
There is a lot fueling the fire for Westbrook tonight. He's going up against former teammate KD on a floor where they are relentlessly battering him. He came out with something to prove, and he's proven it through 24 minutes.
The Clips led by as many as 13 in the 2nd Suns end the half on an 18-8 run thanks to KD and Booker's hot shooting to end the second quarter!
KD has 16, Booker has 13 and Ayton had 10 of his 12 in the second quarter.
Westbrook has 17 to lead the Clips while Kawhi has 16.
Booker ends the quarter with a buzzer beating three and we are all tied going into halftime!!
Paul pull up from the elbow and gets the Suns back within three with 30 seconds to go!
Leonard pulls up from the baseline and hits the mid range jumper over Paul.
Booker at the line after the foul on Gordon and he hits both FTs.
KD takes Westbrook off the dribble and hits the jumper in the lane.
KD at the line after the foul on Batum and he hits both FTs.
Zubac on the slam and the Suns will take a timeout with 2:24 trying to figure out a way to contain this Clips offense.
KD with the step back off the glass from the mid range.
Westbrook gets the floater to go in the lane and it's he and KD going at it in the second quarter.
KD strokes it from the midrange again, and he's got double digits on the night.
Westbrook streaks to the lane, blows by everyone and lays it up off the glass.
Another kick out from Booker leads to another three ball from Craig! This time from the corner!
Booker pulls up from the elbow and the Suns wouldn't mind seeing a little more of that from Book.
Leonard goes after the iron and finishes with the flush!
Craig with a much needed three ball for the Suns after the kick out from Booker!
Leonard at the line after the foul on Booker and he hits one of two.
Leonard back on the floor and he strings a three ball to give the Clips a 12 point lead!
Ayton gets hits own rebound and gets the push shot to go in the paint.
Westbrook blows by Booker and gets the lay up AND 1! FT is good after the foul on Ayton!
KD back in the game and back on the board after a fader off the glass from the left side.
Hyland goes coast to coast after grabbing the rebound and finishing with a lay up on the other end.
Suns take a timeout with 7:20 to go in the half.
Ayton going back at it rom the FT line and he's got 8 points in this quarter!
Westbrook drops a three ball and he's in double digits eclipsing his total from Game 1!
Ayton on the lay up after the dump off from Okogie and he's got 3 second quarter FGs
Powell on the runner across the lane and he gets the roll to go.
Ayton chips in to the lead with a pull up jumper from the FT line.
Powell stretches the lead out to 9 after getting his own rebound and putting it back after a wild transition lay up attempt.
Westbrook at the line after the foul on Paul and he hits both FTs.
Ayton ended the 1st with a bucket and start the 2nd with a mid range jumper.
Mann was fouled by Warren to start the quarter and Mann hits both FTs at the line.
The Clippers stretched the lead to 7 just before the end of the quarter after trailing by 5 at one point.
It's been tight through the opening 12 minutes, and it's Leonard leading the Clips with 8 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists already. Gordon and Mann both hits two threes and have 6 after a quarter.
Durant and Booker both have 6 to lead the Suns.
Ayton hits the floater for his first points of the game and that's how the first quarter is going to end.
Mann sticks the three ball from the corner and the lead is the largest of the game!
Leonard pulls the trigger from downtown and the Clippers are back up by 4 with under a minute to go in the first quarter.
Okogie drills the three ball in the corner for three after the kickout from Biyombo!
Leonard swiped it from KD, and fought him off down the court for a fast break jam!
The Clips are going to take their first timeout with 2:35 to go in the first quarter.
Biyombo gets the entry pass from Okogie and he hits the hook shot over Mann in the paint.
Plumlee at the line after the foul on KD, and hits both FTs.
Craig was T'd up after being called for a foul on Zubac who grabbed the rebound but gave away the outlet pass.
The whistle came late, and that's why he was upset and got a T for his troubles.
Leonard makes the technical FT.
Booker to the line after the foul on Mann and he hits both FTs.
Mann was left open on the perimeter and he punishes the Suns from downtown!
Durant working the mid range again. He hits it from the FT line and KD's got 6 already.
Kawhi steps back and hits the short jumper for his first bucket of the game.
Westbrook just picked up his second foul, this one on the offensive end.
KD hits a fade away from the wing, and he's got a couple buckets already.
We have out first TO with under 7 to go in the opening quarter.
Wesbrook penetrates on Booker, goes into the body and gets the lay up to drop off the glass.
Booker driving left and he finishes high of the glass with the scoop lay up.
Paul hits a pull up jumper from the elbow for his first bucket of the night.
Gordon again from DT and is he about to have another huge opening quarter?
Booker on the board with a pull up from the elbow.
Gordon drills a three ball!! He had 12 in the first quarter of last game, and opens his account from DT
Westbrook strokes a wide open three after going just 3/19 from the field last game.
Booker fouled Zubac and he hits two FTs at the line to put the Clippers on the board.
Kick out from KD who followed his own rebound and found Craig in the corner for three!
KD gets us rolling with a pull up mid range jumper after finishing with 27 in Game 1.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM PHOENIX!!! SUNS LOOKING TO EVEN UP THE SERIES AS THE CLIPPERS HOPE TO DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE.
With PG out again tonight, Kawhi will carry the brunt of the load, but who is going to be there to offer that supporting role? Will is be Gordon or Batum? Or will it be someone off the bench?
This might be the most talented starting five in the entire league. There are three certain Hall of Famers on the court to start the game, and they are going to have to be the ones to figure out how to stop Kawhi and the Clips.
Suns show they are human with KD
Before the Game 1 loss the Suns hadn’t lost a game with KD on the floor. Durant was traded to Phoenix in early February, but was still coming back from a sprained knee injury. He made his Phoenix debut on March 1st, but three games later sprained his ankle in warm ups and missed more than three weeks. In the 8 regular season games KD played, Phoenix won all 8 games. It wasn’t until this weekend that the Suns showed they were beatable despite KD’s 27 points and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Will the Suns get back on track or will the Clips hand the Suns their second straight loss with Durant on the floor?
Westbrook confronts another fan
WESTBROOK
Russell Westbrook chased down a Phoenix fan after the Clippers win and confronted him in one of the lounges of the VIP with what seemed to be the fan’s son sitting close by eating pizza. Westbrook was mad at the fan for calling him Westbrick and warned him to watch his mouth. NBA fans are sometimes guilty of going too far, but here if I may add my opinion, Westbrook is the one who went too far. He has taken a lot of grief over the years, and that perhaps has turned him overly sensitive. I’m surprised the league didn’t take any action after the confrontation, but luckily for the Clips he will be on the floor for Game 2.
PG still OUT
Paul George hasn’t played since injuring his knee in a game against the Thunder on March 21st. He was originally ruled out two to three weeks, but those three weeks have come and gone and he is still sidelined. Tonight’ he has officially been ruled out, and the Clippers aren’t sure if they will get him back in this series. LA has had their fair share of problems with injuries in the last few postseasons. Kawhi Leonard sat out for an entire year last season and his status was never quite clear during that time.
Can Kawhi be stopped?
The Clips come into tonight boasting a 1-0 series lead thanks to this man right here. Kawhi Leonard knows most of the responsibility lies on him with Paul George out, and Russell Westbrook looking like a fraction of his old self. Kawhi had 38 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a huge series opener and is averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 assists a game. He will be hoping not to have to go for almost 40 a game in this series, but he is more than capable of it, if need be.
How does D-Book rebound?
The Suns lost their first game with Kevin Durant healthy and on the floor on Sunday night, and are looking to bounce back tonight in a near must win Game 3. Devin Booker knows what riding on the line and despite having Kevin Durant, this team succeeds when he does well, and struggles when he struggles. He scored 26 points on 10/19 from the floor. This year he’s averaging 27.8 points, and has even more room to operate these days after the addition of KD.
Game 1 recap
The Clippers beat the Suns for a second straight game thanks to a fantastic night from Kawhi Leonard. LA’s superstar led the Clips with 38 points to hand his side a 1-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs. Phoenix had won six straight Game 1’s going into the game on Sunday night. LA led most of the way for the first two and a half quarters, but the Suns got hot in the third and went on a 15-0 run to take the lead but their advantage didn’t last long. Leonard had 13 of this 38 points in the third to recapture the lead and take LA in to the final 12 minutes up two. The two teams would go back-and-forth in the closing minutes, but Russell Westbrook helped seal the Game 1 win with two late FTs, and a block on Devin Booker to secure the victory. Westbrook had just 9 points on 3/19 shooting but had 10 rebounds 8 assists, three blocks and two steals to open the series.
We are live from the desert
Hello everyone and welcome to Phoenix where the Suns and Clippers will go head to head for the third straight time. They ended the regular season in Phoenix in a game that the Clippers won by five points, and they started the first round with a Game 1 victory on the road by the same margin. Tonight the Clippers will have to try to steal another game on the road against a team facing desperation. For Phoenix this is a must win game if they want to avoid going to Cali down two games to none.
Clippers vs. Suns
It’s Game 2 from the desert after LA took Game 1 in game that when down to the wire. Tonight the Clips look to double their advantage over the Phoenix Suns before heading to Cali and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s late night tip from the Footprint Center.