Home

George's Clippers work their Game 3 magic

AAPAAP
Paul George led the LA Clippers to victory over Phoenix Suns in game 3 of their NBA playoffs series.
Camera IconPaul George led the LA Clippers to victory over Phoenix Suns in game 3 of their NBA playoffs series. Credit: AP

Paul George scored a game-high 27 points and Patrick Beverley harassed Devin Booker into another sub-par performance as the Los Angeles Clippers worked their Game 3 magic in a 106-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Western Conference finals.

The Clippers got back into the best-of-seven series with a home win on thursday night after two opening defeats in Phoenix. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night, also in Los Angeles.

Reggie Jackson chipped in with 23 points for Los Angeles while Ivica Zubac outplayed Deandre Ayton with a 15-point, 16-rebound performance.

Booker shot just 5-for-21 en route to 15 points for second-seeded Phoenix.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Fellow backcourt star Chris Paul, making his series debut after being released from COVID protocol, struggled to 15 of his own on 5-for-19 shooting. They combined to sink just 3 of 14 3-point attempts.

Former Clipper, who was booed heartily during intros, managed a game-high 12 assists in 39 minutes. He hadn't played since Game 4 of the Western semi-finals against the Denver Nuggets on June 13.

The Game AFL 2024

The Clippers, who became the first team in NBA history to erase 2-0 deficits in each of their first two playoff series, trailed this time 48-46 at halftime before dominating the second half.

Kawhi Leonard remained out with a right knee sprain, leaving George to carry the load again.

"Our guys keep grinding, keep fighting," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "We never give in."

Suns coach Monty Williams said he played Paul too much in his first game back.

"Probably got tired," Williams said, "but it hurt us when Cam couldn't come back so I left Chris out there for a longer stretch and that's on me."

Down 55-50 in the second minute of the third period, the Clippers got three consecutive hoops from Terance Mann to grab a lead they never relinquished en route to finishing the quarter on a 30-14 run.

George's buzzer-beating, half-court shot capped the surge that produced an 80-69 lead, after which the Suns got no closer than six.

George complemented his 27 points with 15 rebounds and a team-high eight assists. He helped the Clippers bounce back from a last-second defeat in Game 2 of the series with a defensive effort that limited the Suns to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor.

Mann finished with 12 points in the win.

Ayton had 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds for Phoenix, which lost key reserve Cameron Payne to an ankle injury in the second period. Mikal Bridges added 13 points and Cameron Johnson 12 in the defeat.

With Paul returning from his long absence, the Suns seemed comfortable slowing the pace and getting into a defensive struggle in the first half. However, Paul and Booker each shot just 2-for-10 in the half.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails