MANILA – Phoenix Suns acquired a spot in the NBA Finals after nearly three decades following a Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, 130-103, in their Western Conference finals on Wednesday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Chris Paul stole the spotlight as he drilled 41 points, including seven three-point conversions to go with eight assists as the Suns finished off the Clippers in their best-of-seven series, 4-2.
Devin Booker posted 22 markers, Jae Crowder tallied 19 points, with 16 coming in the opening half, as DeAndre Ayton added 16 points and 17 rebounds for Phoenix.
This was the Suns first NBA Finals stint since 1993 when the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix crew bowed down to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen-bannered Chicago Bulls.
Paul set the tone for Phoenix with his back-to-back triples for a 15-9 start. The Clippers charged back and grabbed a 20-19 lead, where the Suns responded with hits from Ayton, Booker, and Cameron Payne for a 33-29 advantage.
Both teams traded hits in the second period for a 50-all score. However, the Suns surged anew via four outside conversions from Crowder to establish a 66-57 halftime lead.
Phoenix continued its rampage in the third quarter for an 89-72 lead on a triple by Torrey Craig and a layup by Mikal Bridges. The Clippers scraped the deficit to 82-89, but eight straight points by Paul increased the Suns’ lead to 97-83.
Paul maintained his offensive outburst for the Suns in the fourth quarter by draining basket after basket as the lead ballooned to 119-92 on a technical free throw with five minutes remaining.
Paul George fizzled for the Clippers in the must-win game as he scored 21 points, including one-of-six three-point shooting, after scoring a playoffs-high of 41 points in Game 5.
Marcus Morris Sr. led the Clippers with his 26 points to go with nine rebounds, while Reggie Jackson, Demarcus Cousins, and Patrick Beverley added 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 130 – Paul 41, Booker 22, Crowder 19, Ayton 16, Bridges 9, Payne 7, Saric 7, Craig 3, Carter 2, Smith 2, Moore 2, Nader 0.
LOS ANGELES 103 – Morris 26, George 21, Jackson 13, Cousins 12, Beverley 11, Batum 9, Mann 5, Kennard 3, Coffey 2, Oturu 1, Scrubb 0, Ferrell 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
33-29; 66-57; 97-83; 130-103./PN
