LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul led the Phoenix Suns to their first NBA final in 28 years, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 130-103 on Wednesday night and closing the Western Conference Finals in six games.
Paul scored 41 points and Devin Booker added 22 to send the Suns to the third final in franchising history. They face the Atlanta Hawks or Milwaukee Bucks, who drew 2-2 in the Eastern Finals.
Paul reached the NBA Finals on the same Staples Center court for the first time in his 16-year career, and he helped the Clippers earn respect during the six seasons that ended in 2017. The 36-year-old goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from the club, with his highest-scoring performance in the playoffs – Paul George – leading the Clippers to victory in Game 5.
The Suns last played in the NBA Finals in 1993, when they were led by Charles Barkley and lost six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Their other final was in 1976, when they lost six games to the Boston Celtics.
In the fourth, things were chipping. 5:48 After the rest of the break, Paul was looking at Patrick Beverly. Beverly turned around and sent Paul to the ground, pushing hard behind him. Beverly was expelled.
Marcus Morris led the Clippers with 26 points despite a knee injury. With 21 points and nine rebounds, George had a high score in the playoffs of his career, and this time he stopped fighting and sent his team home for another chance.
But for the first time in the history of the franchise, the Clippers, tired of the 0-2 series shortcomings in reaching the Western Finals, had little left in the tank. They competed twice more in the NBA Finals, without right-knee MVP Kavhi Leonard and center Ivica Zubac. He missed the second straight game due to an MCL bend in his right knee.
Leonard sat on the bench for the game, his eyes fixed on the back of the black mask.
Paul dominated at the end of the third and in the fourth. He hit three-pointers in the last quarter, fell on his back and fouled one.
Stunning the Staples Center crowd, the Suns scored 17 points in third place. Five different players scored, Jay Crowder’s fifth three-pointer and Booker’s denim highlighted. Crowder finished with 19 points. Deandre Ayton added 16 points and 17 rebounds.
The Clippers reasserted themselves and the fans in a short period of time, bringing the score to 89-82 with a score of 10: 0. Morris and Nicolas Batum scored 3 goals each.
But Paul closed in on his 8-0 run, including two three-pointers, leading the Suns to a fourth lead 97-83.
Booker has dug up a clear plastic mask he wore to protect his broken nose in the last three games. At the end of the third, he put an elbow on his nose to protect George, and in the fourth, he played with a mask. Moments later, DeMarcus Cousins caught a technical foul for Paul’s elbow.
Phoenix led most of the first half, having a breathing room by running at the end of each quarter.
In total, the tied Suns outscored the Clippers 16-7 and led Crowder with 13 points, including three three-pointers – 66-57.
George scored 6 points in 3 of 8 shots and missed all three of those attempts.
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