The Phoenix Suns won a dramatic and completely curious Game 4 at the LA Clippers with 84:80 and placed them 3-1 in the West Finals. The guests in the Staples Center led by up to 16 points before the Clippers came back, but in the end they weren’t even ahead.
In a wear and tear, the Suns led at break with 50:36, never in their franchise history had the Clippers scored fewer points in a first playoff half. 18 of the 22 three-pointers in the first half missed their target. But before the final quarter everything was open again. In this LA missed numerous chances to take the lead, at the free throw line the Suns somehow brought victory over time.
The best guest player was Deandre Ayton, who contributed 19 points (8/14 FG) 22 rebounds (9 offensive) and 4 blocks. Devin Booker (25, 8/22 FG, 0/5 3FG) and Chris Paul (18, 6/22 FG, 7 assists) both did not act efficiently, no other player scored double-digit. The Suns hit only 4 out of 20 three-pointers (20 percent) and 36 percent from the field.
This looked even worse with the Clippers (32.5 / 16.1), which were led by the weak Paul George with 23 points (5/20 FG, 1/9 3FG, 16 rebounds), who also awarded in crunch time an important free throw. Reggie Jackson got 20 points (8/24 FG), Ivica Zubac contributed a double-double (13 and 14).
Cameron Payne was available to the Suns after twisting and knocking out after just four minutes in Game 3. The same was true for Marcus Morris (knee) on the opposite side. He started instead of Terance Mann, while there were no changes at Phoenix. Kawhi Leonard is still missing indefinitely.
Ayton, who wore a shirt from Booker when he warmed up after his nose was injured, opened the game after a few seconds with a three-point game after pick’n’roll with Paul. In his second game after the Corona break, Point God followed up from the midrange. Tyronn Lue was forced to take a break early on, after which it went better from Clippers’ point of view. George was successful with his fourth litter (but only hit 2/10 in Q1 and cashed in technical foul after a push against Booker), a 7-0 run shortened to -5. Ayton dominated the zone against Zubac, the game remained heated with a technical against Payne, after twelve minutes the guests were leading again with +9.
Suns kidnap victory – Clippers comeback remains without reward
The first four points of the second quarter went to the Clippers before the guests hit back with a 10-2 run. The LA offense came to a complete standstill, Morris, Kennard and Co. threw one brick after the other from a distance (3/19), although some throws were quite open. The Suns, on the other hand, kept moving the ball properly, got production from their bankers Dario Saric and Payne and suddenly led at 16 because the home side over six minutes! remained without points. 50:36 Phoenix at break.
The Clippers came out of the cabin with the right attitude, in an 8: 2 run, they only scored on the basket and reduced to -10. The Suns recovered briefly, Paul sank two throws, Bridges blocked Jackson in a threesome and Ayton had a block party too. Booker had taken off his mask and was allowed to defend Morris directly in the post. But another 7-0 run by the hosts made it 53:59, after a layup by Mann it was only 1 point. 69:66 Suns after three quarters.
Both teams started with ultra-small lineups in the final quarter, Booker and George exchanged points. The Suns had to wait for the first successful three in the second half. Booker also got a T, the wear and tear made itself felt everywhere. After five minutes it was 4: 2 for the Clippers in the final section, after 3:30 there were no counters at all.
From the time-out Ayton scored via alley-oop, Jackson kept the Clippers close (74:75). Paul countered, the Suns defended strongly several times. Booker increased to +5 on the line. Beverley forced a stop, but on the other side Crowder stole the ball. Beverley pulled the offensive foul against Booker, who fouled with it. Man placed on -3 (and should also have received a free throw).
Ayton grabbed an offensive rebound after Paul failed, but CP3 missed another jumper. After Review, possession of the ball went to the Clippers, the Suns decided to foul, George scored both. After Payne’s ball landed out of bounds, Phoenix was mistakenly given the throw-in and the scene was not examined. Paul pocketed the freebies, George skipped his first and purposely forgave the second. The rebound landed at DeMarcus Cousins, who completely defeated his second free throw. Paul was sent to the line and still didn’t decide the game. But it should be enough.
The most important statistics
L.A. Clippers (4) vs. Phoenix Suns (2) 80:84 (BOXSCORE), Serie: 1-3
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The approach couldn’t have been more different at the beginning. While the Clippers kept on it from a distance and thus had only moderate success (3/15 in the first quarter), the Suns attacked the zone again and again and finished in the person of Booker in the midrange or Ayton on the ring. The result was only four triple attempts and a field throw rate of a strong 50 percent.
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The Clippers hit 29.5 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from a distance in the first half. It was a small miracle that the gap was “only” 14 points. The main reason: Even the Suns did not convince offensively in the second quarter, only hit 40 percent of their throws and did not take a single free throw.
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At the beginning of the second quarter, Abdel Nader made his comeback for the Suns, the 27-year-old had not played a game for three months after a knee operation and directly ousted Torrey Craig from the rotation. He defended well in his first three minutes, but also committed two fouls and quickly found himself on the bench. Later he returned briefly.
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The Clippers once again lived up to their reputation as late starters. After the break against Utah (game 5 – 5 points, then +13, game 6 – 22 points, then +34) and Phoenix (game 3 – 2, then +16), this time the third quarter belonged to LA. Game 3 ended it 34:21, now 30:19. The Clippers sank 55 percent of the throws, the Suns 27.3 (0/6 3FG).
The star of the game: Deandre Ayton
Booker and Paul in particular remained largely pale, the number one pick played a sensational first half at both ends of the field, it was no coincidence that he had the best plus / minus of all players (+15). He blocked throws, played assists and was unstoppable on the boards. Even after the break, he provided second chances, even if not everything wanted to go well.
The flop of the game: Marcus Morris
Even if PG-13 from the field also hit very little, it defended itself against defeat in other aspects of the game (rebounds, defense). That could not be said of Morris. Only hit 2 of his 8 throws, not a single threesome and came to a plus / minus of -8 in 22 minutes, the worst of all players after Beverley. As a result, almost all of the crunch time minutes went to man.
The scene of the game
Ayton had several spectacular scenes, including two blocks within seconds. But in a phase in the fourth quarter, in which hardly anything wanted to succeed, his worries excellent interaction with Paul for an important break.
Suns vs. Clippers: The Series at a Glance – Status: 3-1
| game | date | Time | Home | Away | Result |
| 1 | 20. June | 9.30 p.m. | Suns | Clippers | 120:114 |
| 2 | 23. June | 3 o’clock | Suns | Clippers | 104:103 |
| 3 | 25. June | 3 o’clock | Clippers | Suns | 106:92 |
| 4 | 27. June | 3 o’clock | Clippers | Suns | 80:84 |
| 5 | 29. June | 3 o’clock | Suns | Clippers | |
| 6* | July 1 | 3 o’clock | Clippers | Suns | |
| 7* | 3rd of July | 3 o’clock | Suns | Clippers |
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