Suns tie Clippers 1-1 as Devin Booker erupts for 38 points with Chris Paul ending postseason curse
Phoenix Suns tie LA Clippers 1-1 as Devin Booker erupts for 38 points in 123-109 win – with Chris Paul finally ending his Scott Foster postseason playoff curse
The Phoenix Suns secured a costly home win to tie their first-round playoff series game against the LA Clippers (1-1), as the team will now turn its focus to winning at least one game en route to regaining home field advantage after his 123-109 win.
After an opening fifteen minutes in which the Clippers took a surprising 29–24 lead, Suns guard Devin Booker went off suddenly, scoring 38 points and connecting on 14 of 22 shots (63.6 overall field goal percentage).
The 26-year-old also nearly got a double-double himself, recording nine assists and was +15 on floor for the Suns in a game they couldn’t afford to miss.
During Tuesday night’s game, Chris Paul also ended his 14-game playoff curse involving NBA veteran umpire Scott Foster.
The pair’s history goes all the way back to when the 37-year-old played for the Houston Rockets (2017-19).
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker had 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting in Tuesday’s 123-109 win
Suns point guard Chris Paul, 37, snapped his 14-game postseason losing streak with veteran NBA umpire Scott Foster, 56, serving
Kawhi Leonard led LA with 31 points after scoring 38 in Game 1, but that wasn’t enough for the Clippers to win Tuesday night
Both teams went into halftime tied at 59-59 after a 65-point second quarter.
Booker then scored 18 points in the third on 7-of-8 shooting, helping the Suns move to a 92–87 lead going into the fourth.
Phoenix never trailed in the last quarter and slowly pulled away. Kevin Durant, who was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to Phoenix in the February trade deadline, also pulled his weight, scoring 25 points.
The series moves to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night.
Deandre Ayton added 14 points – on 7-of-10 shooting – and 13 rebounds for the Suns, while Torrey Craig hit 5-of-8 threes and had 17 points.
Paul had 16 points and eight assists.
Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 31 points after scoring 38 in Game 1. Russell Westbrook added 28 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
Suns forward Kevin Durant, 34, had 25 points in the game that Phoenix couldn’t afford to miss
Russell Westbrook was LA’s second leading scorer of the night, going 9-of-16 shots for 28 points in the team’s first postseason loss