The Los Angeles Clippers narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their opening round series in the NBA playoffs. The match was held at the Footprint Center on Sunday night, and while a close win might not look that impressive, it’s worth highlighting that the Clippers were missing their key player, Paul George, due to a knee injury.
Slow start for Phoenix Suns
The Clippers took advantage of the Suns’ slow start and flew ahead to a big 16-point lead before halftime. Kawhi Leonard did much of his damage from mid-range but later hit two late 3-pointers to secure the win. Leonard scored 38 points, while Eric Gordon added 19 points and hit a late three-pointer that kept the Clippers ahead.
Suns make a comeback
The Suns fought back with a massive 15-0 run in the third quarter to push their way to a nine-point lead. However, the Clippers tied things up again quickly to end the third quarter on level terms.
Fourth quarter heroics
Leonard took over in the fourth quarter with three consecutive three-pointers, putting Clippers up by six points. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul helped Suns come back within a single point with 68 seconds left in the game. But Russell Westbrook drew a foul and secured two free throws, putting the Clippers up by three points.
Westbrook shines despite bad shooting
Westbrook might have had a bad shooting night, but his overall performance was quite impressive as he finished with nine points, ten rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, and two steals. One crucial block and slap to the ball prevented Devin Booker from scoring in the final seconds of the game.
Missing George
It was clear that the Clippers missed eight-time All-Star Paul George due to his knee injury that has him expected to miss the entire first series. However, the rest of the team stepped up to make sure they got the victory.
Suns’ coach remains optimistic
Suns coach Monty Williams said it’s just one game, and they will look at the film and regroup. The Suns will try to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole at home on Tuesday when Game 2 of the series is scheduled.
In conclusion, the Clippers showed grit and determination to grab a win in Game 1 of the NBA playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. Even without Paul George, they managed to hold on and secure a hard-fought victory. As far as the Suns are concerned, they have a lot to learn from this game but still have enough fuel left in their tank to come out of this series with a win. The coming games will undoubtedly be an exciting spectacle for basketball fans around the world.
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