DEVIN BOOKER DELIVERED a 40-point triple double as the Phoenix Suns shook off some playoff rust to beat the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 in the opening game of the Western Conference finals.
Booker also had 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple double as the Suns won on Sunday despite the absence of all-star guard Chris Paul who has been placed in the NBA’s Covid-19 health and safety protocols.
Suns Jae Crowder said it was fitting that Booker stole the show in front of the crowd of 16,583 at Phoenix Suns Arena.
”I expect it. I know the type of player he is,” Crowder said.
Game two is scheduled for Tuesday night in Phoenix.
This is an unexpected NBA final four matchup between two franchises trying to cap their storybook seasons by winning their first NBA titles. The Clippers have never been to the Conference finals before and the Suns last made it in 2010.
This was the Suns’ first game since last Sunday when they completed a four game sweep of the Denver Nuggets in the second round.
It is their ninth trip to the Conference finals as they seek their first title in the 53-year history.
Deandre Ayton scored 20 points with nine rebounds while Mikal Bridges (14 points), Jae Crowder (13 points) and Cameron Johnson (12 points) scored in double digits for the Suns.
Both teams were missing star players Sunday as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard suffered a knee injury in game four of the second round against the Jazz.
Leonard did not join the Clippers on the trip to Phoenix. Coach Tyronn Lue said he wasn’t sure of his availability.
The Clippers beat the Jazz in epic fashion, ending one of the league’s most infamous droughts by advancing to the conference finals for the first time in their 51-year history.
Paul George scored 34 points, Reggie Jackson had 24 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 11 points off the bench in the loss for the Clippers.
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I was in Croker on Sunday screaming my throat raw for the Rebels, but hats off to the Dubs, they have a quality team. Some fantastic play and lovely scores out of them. Actually thought they had the winning of it till the sending off. Even then, they were dangerous till the end.
Look forward to seeing more of them next year.
my friend’s mother makes $83/hour on the computer. She has been without a job for 5 months but last month her check was $21383 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more on this web site… www.Can99.com
Jokes on her, I make $84 an hour
Michele
If your friends mother makes that much money why you wasting your Time on the journal , wasting our time ..do us all a favour and get a real job,. Ps the journal should have sent you and your scam on your way .. Tool .. You add nothing to society..
So pleased Cork won. All this hype about Dublin teams gives me a pain in the colon::-)
John. With respect…you haven’t a clue about hurling…to make a comment like that…this year will be remembered ..in the same regard as the mid nineties.. ..a great year for gaa..
Did u read any of the papers that week,on the front page of the star there was an article about Dublin hurling and on the back page,it’s bias journalism towards Dublin gaa,always has and always will,when Kerry last won the all Ireland there was a two page article about Dublin football in the Sunday world,tell me any losing team in a final that gets more coverage than a winning team
Most of the media coverage this week has all been about Dublin hurling,people would swear that they beat Cork,teams that beat Dublin in hurling and football never get the proper recognition,
Im sure the rebels will get plenty of recognition if they bring back liam to cork town !
john so true! and same after the Kilkenny game but it doesn’t really matter when Liam comes home in Srptember!!!!
Really hope Clare win Liam now
This fella griffiths has ideas about himself. Lots of ideas
I thought it was more of a semi-colon, myself.