The Phoenix Suns have proven their strength, despite some flaws, thanks to their dynamic duo of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Over the past 10 days, Booker and Durant hit the LA Clippers hard with their unrelenting barrage of impact plays, culminating in a 136-130 Game 5 victory on Tuesday to close out the first-round series 4-1. Booker scored 47 points on 19-of-27 shooting with 10 assists, while Durant added 31 points and scored the Suns’ last six points in the final minute to seal the win.
A Historic Feat
Booker averaged 40 points on 62% shooting in the Suns’ four straight victories after the Clippers took Game 1, becoming just the third player in history to do so along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1977) and Bernard King (1984). The Suns’ two stars combined for a whopping 328 points in the five games, becoming the first teammates since Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in 2003 to each score at least 25 points in five straight games to start a postseason. Booker and Durant also became the second duo in NBA history to each score 25 points in every game of a best-of-seven series, joining Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, who did it for the Lakers in a four-game sweep of the Warriors in the 1968 Western Division finals.
The Clippers Fall Short
Playing without stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers tried to make a comeback and erased a 20-point Suns lead down to two with a 31-14 run in the fourth quarter. However, they fell short, lacking the firepower to compete with the Suns’ dynamic duo. The Suns’ stars combined for 50 points in a fearsome third quarter, dropping 50 points in total, while the Clippers’ Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell missed 10 straight shots.
Lessons Learned
Booker and Durant’s performances were incredible, with Durant describing Booker’s impact as “spiritual.” Suns coach Monty Williams praised Booker’s aggression, saying that they don’t call any plays when he’s on a roll. Booker believes that the victory was a good lesson for the team, urging them to “keep playing all the way until the whistle blows.”
In conclusion, the Suns’ dynamic duo has secured their first-round victory over the LA Clippers, proving their strength and dominance in the league. Despite some flaws, Booker and Durant’s performances were historic, and they have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with.
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