Devin Booker's 50-Point Third Quarter Propels Phoenix Suns to Victory Over Clippers in Game 5
The Phoenix Suns have advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs after beating the Los Angeles Clippers 136-130 in Game 5, thanks to an incredible performance by Devin Booker. The Suns were down by nine points at halftime, but Booker's explosive 50-point third quarter turned the game around. He finished the game with 47 points, 10 assists, and just two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
The Clippers put up a fight and cut the Suns' lead to just two points, but Kevin Durant's clutch six-footer and two free throws secured the win for Phoenix. Durant ended the night with 31 points, while Deandre Ayton provided a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Chris Paul had 15 points and seven assists.
For the Clippers, Nicolas Batum scored 27 points, Ivica Zubac had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Marcus Morris Sr. dropped 12 points. However, Russell Westbrook had a tough shooting night, hitting just three of his 18 shots. The Clippers' star players, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, have been out for most of the series due to injuries.
The Suns will now face the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the second round, while the Clippers will look to recover this offseason. The Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves to advance to the next round.