Phoenix’s big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul were all firing on all cylinders. As a result, the scrappy Los Angeles Clippers are about to head home for the summer. Durant led the Warriors to a 112-100 victory against the Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
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The Clippers scored the first nine points of the third, and Suns coach Monty Williams called timeout. “Typically, you have to list three, four things you have to do,” he said. “I don’t have to do that with these guys. They understand before I get there.”
Photo Cred: The Arizona Republic
The Clippers lost Game 3 by five points and made another run while Leonard sat on the bench. He has missed two games in a row due to a sprained right knee. They are also without Paul George. He’s been injured since March 21 with the same ailment as Leonard.
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Westbrook, who joined the Clippers in February, led them to victory in the fourth quarter. He scored 14 points, including nine in a row when they were within two points twice. Westbrook scored a game-high 37 points. Terance Mann scored 13 points off the bench, and Norman Powell added 14 points. The best-of-seven series continues on Tuesday in Phoenix with Game 5.
Photo Cred: USA Today
KD is averaging 44 a night for the series and has yet to reach for the oxygen mask. That’s a heavy time for anyone, much less a player who dealt with knee and ankle issues this season and played only 47 games with the Nets and Suns. The Sun’s bench isn’t the deepest, and this is how it’ll be for KD and Devin Booker (who has played 43, 45, 44, and 41 minutes). The Suns need to win Game 5 and rest.
