Chris Paul’s 41-point burst on Wednesday helped the Phoenix Suns crush the Los Angeles Clippers 103-130 and clinch the Western Conference finals series by four games to two. The 36-year-old point guard also recorded four rebounds and eight assists as the Suns booked their place in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.
The Suns will face one of either Atlanta Hawks or Milwaukee Bucks in the title series.
“That sounds damn good, damn good,” Paul, who climbed to 11 in the all-time NBA list of playoff assists, said in his post-match comments. “It’s been a lot of work. Going to a new team, that team (fought) hard.”
The Clippers cut the deficit down to just seven points at one point in the third quarter before Paul, who has never reached the finals in 16 seasons, scored 14 out of 16 points to pull the Suns clear and keep their lead intact.
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“(I was on a) Don’t lose mission,” Paul said in reply to questions on that particular passage of play. “I wish my son and my family (was) here. Its just a lot of emotions.”
Paul – an 11-time All Star who has also played for the New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, will finally have the chance to remove the tag of being one of the greatest NBA players to never win the title.
Shooting guard Devin Booker recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Suns established a lead from the onset and held on comfortably.
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Meanwhile, Paul George – who scored 41 points as the Clippers kept their hopes alive with a 102-116 win on Monday – was restricted to just 21 points.
The frustration was evident on the Clippers players and tempers flared as Patrick Beverley shoved Paul, after he scored a three-pointer to put the Suns ahead 118-92, to receive his marching orders.
Marcus Morris Sr top-scored for the Clippers with 26 points, nine rebounds and one assist.
