{"id":49900,"date":"2023-04-27T06:30:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=49900"},"modified":"2023-04-26T17:36:49","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T21:36:49","slug":"suns-clippers-game-5-devin-booker-sinks-clippers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/04\/27\/suns-clippers-game-5-devin-booker-sinks-clippers\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns-Clippers Game 5: Devin Booker Sinks the Clippers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Phoenix Suns burned the LA Clippers 136-130 in Game 5 to earn a 4-1 series victory. The Suns outscored the Clippers by 26 points in the third quarter but still struggled to survive a late onslaught. Nonetheless, Phoenix will advance to the second round to face the <\/span>Denver Nuggets<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Clippers fought valiantly without <\/span>Kawhi Leonard<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Paul George<\/b><\/a>, but they couldn\u2019t overcome the massive talent gap without Leonard. How do the Suns match up against the Nuggets? And what\u2019s in store for the Clippers during another long offseason?<\/span><\/p>\n

Suns-Clippers Game 5: Devin Booker Sinks the Clippers<\/h2>\n

Suns-Clippers: Game 5 First Half<\/b><\/h3>\n

This has been a <\/span>closely-contested series<\/span><\/a> even without Leonard, and Game 5 continued in the same vein. <\/span>Devin Booker<\/b><\/a> was the Suns\u2019 point guard even when <\/span>Chris Paul<\/b><\/a> was in the game. Booker ran Phoenix\u2019s offense to perfection, as every Phoenix starter besides <\/span>Torrey Craig<\/b><\/a> scored in the first six minutes. An explosive <\/span>Norman Powell<\/b><\/a> (11 points in the quarter) combined with the beastly <\/span>Ivica Zubac<\/b><\/a> (8 points) to keep LA competitive. The Suns held a scant 32-30 lead at the end of one.<\/span><\/p>\n

The game stayed close in the second quarter as the Clippers continued to fight for their postseason lives. <\/span>Deandre Ayton<\/b><\/a> took advantage of the defensive attention garnered by his teammates and scored 9 in the quarter (18 for the half). Neither team could stop the other, but LA proved to have the more unstoppable offense. The Clippers earned seven more shot attempts (and six more free throws) than the Suns by grabbing ten offensive boards to Phoenix\u2019s 14 defensive rebounds. They led 70-61 at halftime after putting up a 40-point second quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Count 'em up Stormin' \u26c8\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/oIqSMecem9<\/a><\/p>\n

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n