Facing elimination in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers led 70-61 at halftime. Los Angeles dominated the fourth quarter, as well, outscoring Phoenix 36-25.
Yet, the Clippers still lost. So, what happened? The third quarter. More specifically, Devin Booker in the third quarter.
Booker, who had a solid 16 points at halftime, went off in the third quarter, scoring 25 points.
His 25-point third quarter was better than the entire Clippers team.
Basketball fans heaped praise on Booker for his stellar showing.
There has not been a single player better in the first round of these playoffs than Devin Booker
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 26, 2023
And as good as Booker was, he was only part of Phoenix’s dominance. In fact, he was exactly half. With Booker leading the way, the Suns scored 50 points in the third quarter, opening up 111-94 lead.
The Clippers clawed their way back into the game and had multiple chances to either tie or take the lead in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Ultimately, though, the third-quarter deficit was too much to overcome and the Suns prevailed 136-130.
Phoenix will next face the Denver Nuggets, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference who narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
That will be a rematch of a second-round series from 2021, which Phoenix famously won in four games.
About Michael Dixon
About Michael:
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