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Suns beat Clippers, lead NBA series 2-0

David BrandtAAP
Deandre Ayton sunk a match-winning dunk as Phoenix beat the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA thriller.
Camera IconDeandre Ayton sunk a match-winning dunk as Phoenix beat the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA thriller. Credit: AP

Deandre Ayton jammed an alley-oop pass from Jae Crowder with 0.7 seconds left, giving the Phoenix Suns a thrilling 104-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

The Suns were down one with 0.9 seconds left when Crowder lofted a high pass on an out-of-bounds play on the baseline.

A soaring Ayton came down the lane and stuffed it through the net over the Clippers' Ivica Zubac as the crowd roared in disbelief at Phoenix Suns Arena.

The referees spent about a minute reviewing the play before ruling the basket was good.

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"The celebration and reaction were a little shaky because I wasn't sure what I did. I wasn't sure if it counted," Ayton said.

The Clippers couldn't get a shot off in the final 0.7 seconds.

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The Suns now have a 2-0 lead in the series heading to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday (AEST).

Not for the first time in these playoffs, the Clippers will be fighting from a 2-0 deficit after rallying to beat the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz in the first two rounds.

The Crowder-to-Ayton connection negated a Clippers rally that was led by Paul George, who had 26 points.

George made a layup with 31 seconds left to give the Clippers a 101-100 lead for their first advantage since early in the third quarter. Suns guard Devin Booker responded with a jumper of his own with 27 seconds left.

George calmly took the ball on the next possession and drilled a long two-pointer for a 103-102 lead.

But there was a lot more action left.

George missed two free throws with 8.2 seconds remaining and the Suns had a chance to win, but it looked as if it wouldn't happen when Mikal Bridges missed a corner 3-pointer and the ball was deflected out of bounds.

Instead, it set up Crowder's heave to Ayton, who was dominant in the paint all night.

The Suns have won nine straight in the playoffs, which is a franchise record.

They were led by Cameron Payne, who was brilliant while subbing for All-Star Chris Paul.

"We just had no answer for Cameron Payne," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.

"He got downhill all night. His speed and his quickness really hurt us all night."

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