The Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers faced each other on Saturday night for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
After cutting the series lead in Game 3 with the Suns.
The Clippers looked to tie the series 2-2 with a win in Game 4.
However, the Suns had other plans for the Clippers.
As they took yet another win under their belt of the seven-game series.
The hard-fought battle between the two teams ended with the Suns defeating the Clippers 84-80 and taking a 3-1 series lead.
The Suns started strong taking the lead in the first half.
But the Clippers weren’t going down without a fight.
Subsequently, the Clippers made a comeback in the second half.
And ultimately defeat them in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker led the Suns despite suffering a nose injury. Followed by Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul.
On the other hand, Paul George led the Clippers.
And in the absence of their key player Kawhi Leonard, he received help from Reggie Jackson and Ivica Zubac.
The Suns took the lead in the first half.
Deandre Ayton started the first quarter with a layup and Ivica Zubac answered back with a dunk on Marcus Morris Sr.’s pass.
DEANDRE. AYTON. DOMINATION.@DeandreAyton scores 19 points while tallying #NBAPlayoffs career highs in boards (22) and blocks (4), putting the @Suns up 3-1! #ThatsGame
Game 5 – Monday, 9pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/tovZKKCbpi
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2021
Devin Booker came up with a floater on Chris Paul’s pass. Jae Crowder knocked down a long two-pointer.
Soon Booker added a mid-range jumper and just like that, the Suns took 12 point lead over the Clippers.
Paul George knocked down a three-pointer for the Clippers and Zubac added a hook shot on the next possession.
This cut the Suns’ lead to five points with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Booker knocked down a jumper on the other end and Paul George answered with a layup.
They were 23-13 as Nicholas Batum knocked down a three-pointer with 3:16 remaining in the quarter.
Terence Mann dropped a three-pointer and the lead cut to five-point.
The Suns made a 4-0 run, taking a 9-point lead and ending the quarter 29-20 with the Clippers.
The Clippers trailed the Suns.
Luke Kennard dropped the first bucket of the second quarter. Reggie Jackson added a fadeaway jumper.
He also added another long jumper on the next possession.
Booker then dropped a three-pointer and Cameron Johnson added another three-pointer.
Ayton dropped a dunk on Paul’s pass.
The Suns took 13 point lead with 6:36 remaining in the quarter as Ayton blocked Jackson at the rim.
Booker came up with a jump shot on the other end. George answered back with a jumper.
They were 44-31 with under three minutes left to play in the quarter as Ayton dropped a jumper.
Zubac dropped a dunk on the other end and Paul answered back with a mid-range jumper over Zubac.
Jackson knocked down a wide-open three-pointer on the other end.
Mikal Bridges dropped a layup in the final seconds of the second quarter.
Hence the quarter ended 50-36 with the Suns again taking the lead.
The Clippers make a comeback in the third quarter.
Zuback dropped a dunk for the Clippers and Reggie Jackson added a reverse layup on the next possession.
Subsequently, Paul answered back with a jumper on the other side.
Patrick Beverly then dropped a jumper and Bridges blocked Reggie Jackson a the rim.
Chris Paul came up with a jump shot back-to-back.
Zubac dropped a dunk and George added a jumper on the next possession.
They were 53-39 with under five minutes left to play in the quarter.
Bridges dropped a jumper and Jackson answered back with a three-pointer on George’s pass.
Booker then came up with a jumper and Jackson answered back with a jumper too.
The quarter ended 69-66 with the Suns in the lead.
The Suns take the win.
Booker started the fourth quarter, dropping a layup and George answered back with a jumper.
Paul George drew a foul and the Clippers cut the lead to a point with the free throws.
Chris Paul then found Ayton for alley-opp and Ayton knocked down a dunk.
Both the teams scoreless at 73-72 halfway into the quarter.
Finally, Booker knocked down a mid-range jumper and extended the lead to 3 points.
Jackson however answered right back, knocking down a jumper.
Subsequently, Chris Paul made a reverse layup on the other end.
Book fouled out of the game and Mann dropped a layup cutting the Suns’ lead.
George again cut the lead to a point with free throws.
The game ended with the free throws duel between the teams, where the Suns emerged as a winner.
“It was a crazy, emotional game,” Paul George said.
LA Clippers shot 32 percent from the field while the Suns were barely better with 36 percent.
“That was a slugfest,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “It wasn’t Offense 101, for sure.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, “We had a chance to take the lead on 12 possessions and couldn’t do it. It just wouldn’t fall for us.”
Low scoring night for both teams.
Devin Booker led the Suns, scoring 25 points, and 2 rebounds.
While Deandre Ayton dropped 19 points and grabbed huge 22 rebounds.
He also made four-block shots.
Chris Paul contributed 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Meanwhile, all the other players failed to score in double figures.
Mikal bridges grabbed 13 rebounds and scored only six points.
On the other hand, Paul George led the Clippers, scoring 23 points and 16 rebounds double-double.
Paul George up to 20 PTS.@LAClippers within 1 on ESPN.#NBAPlayoffs #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/FUtIGJaIlc
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2021
He had 6 assists and played 42 minutes.
Followed by Reggie Jackson, who had 20 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist.
While Ivica Zubac dropped 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Likewise, Terence Mann led the bench, scoring 12 points and 4 rebounds and all other players failed to score in double figures.
The Clippers and the Suns face each other for Game 5 on Monday in Phoenix.
In fact, the fate of the two teams will be decided in Game 5.
If the Suns win then they will move to the NBA Finals and If the Clippers win then they force Game 6.
Hence, it’ll be interesting to see who will become the first to make a spot in the NBA Finals.
