Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns goes up for a shot against Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers during the first half in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Chris Paul erupted for 41 points to lead the Phoenix Suns into the NBA Finals on Wednesday with a series-clinching 130-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns — who squandered the opportunity to wrap up the Western Conference Finals at home on Monday — rebounded at the Staples Center with an emphatic win, taking the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Phoenix will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks in the best-of-seven championship round.
Paul was the architect of the Suns win, the 36-year-old, 11-time NBA All-Star drawing on all of his experience to get Phoenix over the line.
It means that Paul will finally have the chance to shed his tag as one of the greatest players in NBA history to never win a championship.
The @Suns lift the #NBAWCF presented by AT&T trophy and will represent the Western Conference in the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV for the first time since 1993! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/M6ImKWgkzF
— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2021
In 16 glittering seasons in the league, Paul has never reached the NBA Finals in a career littered with near-misses during spells with the New Orleans, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City and Phoenix.
The Suns looked to be cruising to victory after jumping into a 17-point lead near the end of the third quarter.
However, the Clippers came roaring back with 10 unanswered points to cut the lead to seven, Nicolas Batum’s three-pointer rousing the home fans into thinking another comeback was on the cards.
However, Paul took that rally as his cue to impose himself on the contest, rattling off eight points without reply to restore a healthy Suns cushion at 97-82.
After putting up 41 PTS (31 in 2nd half) in the series-clinching win, @CP3 talks about what it means to make his first trip to the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV.
The @Suns advance to the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV for the first time since 1993! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/Sbn3j3hfMz
— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2021
A four-point play from Paul midway through the fourth quarter took the Suns to a 19-point lead at 111-92, and there was no way back for the Clippers.
With Phoenix effectively bottling up Clippers ace Paul George — the 41-point hero from game five — the Clippers’ frustration mounted.
Another Paul three-pointer put the Suns 118-92 ahead, and the Clippers Patrick Beverley boiled over — shoving the Suns veteran to the ground and promptly being ejected from the game.
Paul’s 41-point effort was backed with double-digit contributions from Devin Booker with 22 points, Jae Crowder with 19 points and Deandre Ayton with 16 points.
Marcus Morris Sr. led the Clippers scoring with 26 points while George added 21.