Suns and Clippers Set for Game 3 Clash
The Phoenix Suns take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center for Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals series. The Suns lead the series, 2-0.
The Suns (2-0) headed into Tuesday's Game 2 once again saddled by the absence of Chris Paul (COVID-19 protocols), but for the second straight contest, they managed to outslug and outlast their opponent, albeit barely, over 48 minutes. In Game 2, a miracle alley-oop bucket by Deandre Ayton on an inbounds pass from Jae Crowder with 0.7 seconds remaining got Phoenix over the finish line by a 104-103 score. Cameron Payne paced the Suns with 29 points, adding nine assists, one rebound, two steals and two blocks. Ayton finished with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist, one steal and one block. Devin Booker registered 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. Dario Saric and Cameron Johnson posted matching 11-point, three-rebound tallies.
The Suns will list Paul as probable for Thursday's contest.
The Clippers (0-2) will have some mental hurdles to overcome as they prepare for Game 3 considering the way Tuesday's defeat came about, but it's worth noting Los Angeles just upended the Utah Jazz on four consecutive occasions after being down 2-0 in their semifinal-round series. In Game 2, Paul George led the Clippers with 26 points, adding six rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson furnished 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Ivica Zubac generated a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included one block. Luke Kennard supplied 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Clippers will likely list Kawhi Leonard (knee) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's contest marks the sixth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Suns have won three of those five games, including the two they've prevailed in during this series.
The Suns (2-0) headed into Tuesday's Game 2 once again saddled by the absence of Chris Paul (COVID-19 protocols), but for the second straight contest, they managed to outslug and outlast their opponent, albeit barely, over 48 minutes. In Game 2, a miracle alley-oop bucket by Deandre Ayton on an inbounds pass from Jae Crowder with 0.7 seconds remaining got Phoenix over the finish line by a 104-103 score. Cameron Payne paced the Suns with 29 points, adding nine assists, one rebound, two steals and two blocks. Ayton finished with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double that also included one assist, one steal and one block. Devin Booker registered 20 points, five assists and four rebounds. Dario Saric and Cameron Johnson posted matching 11-point, three-rebound tallies.
The Suns will list Paul as probable for Thursday's contest.
The Clippers (0-2) will have some mental hurdles to overcome as they prepare for Game 3 considering the way Tuesday's defeat came about, but it's worth noting Los Angeles just upended the Utah Jazz on four consecutive occasions after being down 2-0 in their semifinal-round series. In Game 2, Paul George led the Clippers with 26 points, adding six rebounds and six assists. Reggie Jackson furnished 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Ivica Zubac generated a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included one block. Luke Kennard supplied 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The Clippers will likely list Kawhi Leonard (knee) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's contest marks the sixth meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Suns have won three of those five games, including the two they've prevailed in during this series.