{"id":49793,"date":"2023-04-19T09:28:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-19T13:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=49793"},"modified":"2023-04-19T09:28:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-19T13:28:16","slug":"suns-clippers-game-2-kevin-durant-and-devin-booker-lead-phoenix-to-a-commanding-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/04\/19\/suns-clippers-game-2-kevin-durant-and-devin-booker-lead-phoenix-to-a-commanding-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns-Clippers Game 2: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker Lead Phoenix to a Commanding Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/suns\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoenix Suns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gave a loud bounce-back performance tonight by beating the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/clippers\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LA Clippers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 123-109. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Chris Paul<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gained retribution over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/story\/sports\/nba\/suns\/2023\/04\/18\/chris-paul-referee-scott-foster-meet-again-in-suns-clippers-game-2\/70126434007\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">referee Scott Foster<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the 1-1 series heads back to LA for Game 3.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoenix showed why <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/03\/23\/phoenix-suns-favorites-out-west\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">betting odds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> consider them a true <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/03\/07\/five-real-contenders-for-the-nba-championship\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NBA championship contender<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. What went right for the Suns in Game 2? How can the Clippers respond in Game 3?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Suns-Clippers Game 2: Kevin Durant and Devin Booker Lead Phoenix to a Commanding Victory<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Suns-Clippers: Game 2 Recap<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both teams picked up right where they left off in the hotly-contested Game 1 by playing with great intensity. Phoenix committed six turnovers in the first quarter; the Clippers used those, along with some hot three-point shooting, to take a five-point lead at the end of the quarter. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/12\/top-nba-players-2022-23-5-kevin-durant\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Kevin Durant<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hit a couple of midrange jumpers, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/westbru01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Russell Westbrook<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/11\/top-nba-players-2022-23-8-kawhi-leonard\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Kawhi Leonard<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> harassed him into turnovers and two airballs. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Russ SWATS KD \ud83c\udf7f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uqLDtu4c5p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/uqLDtu4c5p<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAonTNT\/status\/1648511008871424000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Clippers started the second quarter strong with dribble penetration. Westbrook and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/powelno01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Norman Powell<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> repeatedly got to the rim and either finished or set up open three-point shooters. The Suns\u2019 perimeter players couldn\u2019t stop the rim assaults, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/aytonde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Deandre Ayton<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could not deter the Clippers at the rim. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">KAWHI FREAKIN&#39; LEONARD <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0Kf8iMQvTv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/0Kf8iMQvTv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; LA Clippers (@LAClippers) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LAClippers\/status\/1648521952649424896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LA\u2019s three-point shooting abandoned them as Durant increased his aggression. He led Phoenix with eight points during a four-minute run that tied the game at the end of the second quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Phoenix onslaught continued in the third quarter as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/04\/top-nba-players-2022-23-11-devin-booker\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Devin Booker<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> started to heat up. LA seemed a step slow as the Phoenix offense resembled the juggernaut league observers predicted they\u2019d become after trading for Durant. Ayton picked up his fourth foul with 7:39 left in the third, but Phoenix limited their turnovers and overcame his absence. They entered the fourth with a 92-87 lead.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rising up! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kNAFBighDY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/kNAFBighDY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Suns\/status\/1648529588031721473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fourth quarter was more of the same. The non-Leonard Clippers were unable to score consistently, while Paul started to make an impact on the game to supplement Booker\u2019s still-hot shooting. The Clippers never seriously threatened as Phoenix pulled away for a convincing win.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Game 3 Adjustments for the Suns <\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For all of Phoenix\u2019s talent, they ran into a math problem in Game 1; the Clippers made four more threes on 12 more attempts. The Suns were able to overcome the disparity thanks to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/craigto01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Torrey Craig<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shooting 5-7 from three in Game 2. Craig shot 39.5% from three this season but is at just 34.7% for his career, and his shooting might regress on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Torrey ties his playoff career-high with 5 triples! \ud83d\udd90\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tbE4P3GAfB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/tbE4P3GAfB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Phoenix Suns (@Suns) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Suns\/status\/1648531629076529152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoenix also struggled to contain the Clippers\u2019 drives at times in Game 2. Going small when Ayton sits could boost their three-point shooting and their perimeter defense. Playing Durant at center instead of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/biyombi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Bismack Biyombo<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/landajo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jock Landale<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would add another shooter to the floor, and playing five out could break LA\u2019s defense. Phoenix isn\u2019t known for switching on defense, but that lineup should give Monty Williams the courage to attempt the scheme.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Game 3 Adjustments for the Clippers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Clippers have to be pleased with their 1-1 road split without <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2022\/10\/09\/top-nba-players-2022-23-12-paul-george\/\" target=\"_self\"><b>Paul George<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but there is still low-hanging fruit for Tyronn Lue. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mannte01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Terance Mann<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is almost certainly one of LA\u2019s five best players. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/batumni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Nicolas Batum<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was a non-factor in this game, and outside of a few bright moments in the first half, Powell and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gordoer01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Eric Gordon<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made little impact. Mann is a better on-ball defender than all three, well-equipped to fight through screens and contest pull-ups. He\u2019s their best option on either Booker or Paul and has to play more than the 25 minutes he logged in Game 2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lue could also consider switching their defensive strategy. The Clippers started the game with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/z\/zubaciv01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Ivica Zubac<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cguarding\u201d Craig by ignoring him to help in the paint, with Leonard starting on Ayton. Zubac was unable to recover to bother Craig\u2019s shot, and he burned the strategy. Lue might consider starting Zubac on Ayton and have him come out to the three-point line to defend Phoenix\u2019s myriad number of pick-and-rolls. Craig\u2019s defender can help contest Ayton in the paint and more ably recover to the three-point line than Zubac.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This strategy would force Ayton to either beat LA as a passer (he averaged just 1.7 assists\/game this year) or as a dominating scorer. Ayton doesn\u2019t get to the rim much, taking just <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/leagues\/NBA_2023_shooting.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31.3% of his shots<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> within three feet of the hoop. That\u2019s lower than Mann, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hartjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Josh Hart<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willija06.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jalen Williams<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and his backups Landale and Biyombo. Lue should be confident in letting Phoenix try to win the game on the back of midrange jumpers from Ayton.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Phoenix Suns gave a loud bounce-back performance tonight by beating the LA Clippers 123-109. Chris Paul gained retribution over referee Scott Foster as the 1-1 series heads back to LA for Game 3. Phoenix showed why betting odds consider them a true NBA championship contender. What went right for the Suns in Game 2? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4175,"featured_media":49794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,27,28],"tags":[4759,229,1419,352,168,69,53],"class_list":["post-49793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-clippers","category-suns","tag-2023-nba-playoffs","tag-chris-paul","tag-deandre-ayton","tag-devin-booker","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-kevin-durant","tag-russell-westbrook"],"modified_by":"Kevin Nivek","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49793"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49793\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}