By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Paul George scored 41 points to keep the Los Angeles Clippers’ season alive. “Playoff P” set a new playoffs career-high in scoring, Reggie Jackson added 23 and the feisty Clippers staved off elimination by beating the Phoenix Suns 116-102 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
“The group of guys we’ve got, I love those guys. They compete every single night no matter who is on the floor,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “The work’s not done, but we came into a hostile environment and got a gritty win. We’ve got to do it again two more times.”
The series moves back to LA with the Suns holding a 3-2 advantage.
The short-handed Clippers were playing without two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Croatian center Ivica Zubac, who missed his first game of the season with an MCL sprain in his right knee. French forward Nicolas Batum added two points and eight rebounds for the winning side.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 31 points. Chris Paul, who is trying to go to the NBA Finals for the first time in his 16-year career, added 22 points and eight assists. Deandre Ayton had 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Croatian forward Dario Saric had two points and four rebounds.
The Suns are trying to make their first NBA Finals since 1993. The Clippers have never been this far in the postseason.