The Los Angeles Clippers survived elimination and made a triumph come back in Game 5 Monday night on the road against the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers’ determination, even without their normal starting five, led to a 116-102 victory against the Suns and pushed them ahead to Game 6 back at the Staples Center.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
“Guys have been out,” Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue said in the post-game interview. “Different guys are stepping up and stepping in and playing well and we’ve been doing it all year long. I keep saying we’re resilient, but this group is.”
The starting lineup was Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Terance Mann, and former New York Knicks player Marcus Morris Sr. The Clippers were without lead scorer Kawhi Leonard who suffered a knee injury in the earlier series against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers were yet competitive as they faced off against the Phoenix Suns and leading scorers Deandre Ayton, the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Devin Booker, who once scored 70 points in game (March 24, 2017) and NBA veteran Chris Paul, who was 4th pick in the 2005 NBA draft.
Paul George had a stellar performance and led the Clippers with 41 points, 13 total rebounds and six assists. George’s playoff performance competes with the greats Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kevin Durant. According to the verified Twitter account “NBA history” he joins them as the only “players in NBA history to score at least 20 in their first 18 games of a single NBA Playoffs”.
“(If) they was going to finish this series off they were going to have to work for it,” George said in the post-game interview. “That was just the mentality we had when we came into this.”
Reggie Jackson performance was also clutch as he showed up for the team at the most opportune moments. He scored 23 points and had five total rebounds and three assists.
Phoenix led the series 3-1 going into the game. The Clippers knew what was necessary and started the game with intense energy, maintaining the lead in the first and second quarter and led 59-52 at half time.
“Their desperation, their competitive edge was consistent for 48 minutes,” Suns Head Coach Monty Williams said in the post-game interview. “We did in spurts and we certainly didn’t start the game with it.”
The Suns made a comeback in the third quarter, but the Clippers kept working.
“(The) work is not done but we came into a hostile environment and got a gritty win like I said without three starters,” Lue said. “We got to do it again two more times.”
Chris Paul is looking to get to the NBA Finals for the first time in his 16 year career. His playoff woes have been well documented going back to 2015 when he ripped his hamstring. 2016 saw Paul fracture his hand and then his foot the following year. In 2018, the hamstring issue resurfaced as a member of the Houston Rockets. Ater losing Monday night, it’s only natural that Paul is having a “Ground Hogs Day” moment.
Game 6 took place last night. If it goes to a game 7 it will be played in Phoenix. The pressure on Paul will be tremendous. Said Paul after the loss and having to play on the road, “we know we’re going there. A place where we won the last time. We know they’re going to be excited and ready to go. So, we’ll be ready.”
Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.
Recent Comments