Basketball games are won in defense, and last night Clippers and Suns fooled themselves with good reason as evidenced by the “European” score with which the fourth act of the Western Conference Finals ended.
After losing the first game in about a month, Phoenix enters the field with an unusual decision, making the opening 2-14 with Paul setting the pace. Controbreak 7-0 by the Clippers, who however suffer from little accuracy from three points (3/15) and the guests remain in command (20-29).
Despite the good defense in Los Angeles, Dario Saric and Cam Johnson launched a 10-0 Suns (26-41) leaving the Los Angeles players 5 ‘without points. George and Jackson limit the damage to a 36-50 at the interval which still leaves room for recovery.
On the return, the Clippers try to be more incisive, but three offensive rebounds granted to the Suns, forced shots and seven points by Chris Paul see them still down by 13 in the quarter. After a time-out by Lue, the duo Paul George – Reggie Jackson throws a 13-4 which is almost worth the reunion. Devin Booker keeps Phoenix ahead (66-69).
The air becomes heavy. After George’s -1, the score remains at 71-70 for more than four minutes while the two teams miss 16 shots in a row. Los Angeles falls back by nothing until 1 ‘from the end, when Booker commits the sixth foul (76-79).
Paul and Ayton miss a double chance to kill the match; Paul George’s free throws bring LA to -1 with 13 seconds left. You try to steal the ball, but you end up sending Chris Paul to the line. Which is 2/2. Williams asks for a quick foul, but George fails the first free. The second is voluntarily wrong, but there is no favorable rebound. And Phoenix takes home 3-1.
LA Clippers – Phoenix 80-84. Boxscore: 23p+16r George, 20 Jackson, 13p+14r Zubac, 12 Mann per i Clippers; 25 Booker, 19p+22r Ayton, 18 Paul, 6p+13r Bridges per i Suns.
