Suns hold off Clippers, close in on NBA Finals
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns walks to the free throw line against the LA Clippers during the second half in game four of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker scored 25 points before fouling out and Deandre Ayton added 19 points with 22 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns moved one game from their first NBA Finals appearance in 28 years by holding on for an 84-80 victory Saturday over the host Los Angeles Clippers.
DEANDRE. AYTON. DOMINATION.@DeandreAyton scores 19 points while tallying #NBAPlayoffs career highs in boards (22) and blocks (4), putting the @Suns up 3-1! #ThatsGame
Game 5 – Monday, 9pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/tovZKKCbpi
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2021
Chris Paul, in his second game back from COVID-19 protocol, had 18 points and seven assists as the Suns took a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. Paul made five free throws in the final seven seconds to seal the victory.
The Suns now have three chances to earn their spot in the Finals, with their first opportunity coming in Game 5 on Monday at Phoenix.
Paul George had 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, but shot 5 of 20 from the field and 1 of 9 from 3-point range, while Reggie Jackson scored 20 points.
Los Angeles shot just 32.5 percent from the field as it played without Kawhi Leonard for the sixth consecutive playoff game because of a knee injury.
Trailing 50-36 at the half, the Clippers got back in the game by outscoring the Suns 30-19 in the third quarter. Los Angeles then had multiple chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but both teams went through a nearly four-minute scoreless stretch to keep the Suns ahead at 71-70.
Neither team shot well from the field in the fourth quarter, with the Suns shooting 21.1 percent to 15.8 percent for the Clippers. With the Clippers in need of somebody to lean on while playing without Leonard, George was just 1 of 7 from the field in the final period.
Terance Mann got the Clippers within 79-76 on a layup with 58.5 seconds to play, shortly after Booker fouled out after a charge on the offensive end. Two free throws from Paul with 7.0 seconds remaining gave the Suns an 81-78 lead.
After an exchange of free throws, George made one for the Clippers with 3.2 seconds left to get Los Angeles within 82-80. He missed the second intentionally, but the Suns got the rebound and Paul made two foul shots to put the game away.
The Clippers finished just 5 of 31 (16.1 percent) from 3-point range in the game, while the Suns were 4 of 20 (20 percent). Phoenix shot 36 percent overall.
Mikal Bridges had 13 rebounds for the Suns, while Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers. Mann had 12 for Los Angeles.
