Western Conference Champion, Phoenix Suns To NBA Finals
JAKARTA - Chris Paul scored 31 points out of a total of 41 in the second half to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 130-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in game six of the Western Conference finals Wednesday night, making it their first time in 28 years to reach the NBA Finals. .
Launching Antara, Paul entered 7 of a total of 8 three-pointers and 16 of a total of 24 throws to slaughter his former team. He also had eight assists and three steals to lead the Suns to the Western Conference title in six games.
Devin Booker had 22 points, Jae Crowder had 19 points and Deandre Ayton had 16 points plus 17 rebounds for the second-seeded Suns.
The @Suns win Game 6, defeat LAC 4-2 in the #NBAWCF presented by AT&T and advance to the #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV for the first time since 1993! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/mOcPjfXmSN
— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2021
Marcus Morris Sr. had 26 points and nine rebounds, while Paul George had 21 points for the fourth-seeded Clippers. Patrick Beverley was sent off with 5 minutes 49 seconds remaining for pushing Paul backwards onto the court.
LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard with a knee injury missed eight games in a row, while team-mate Ivica Zubac, who also has a knee injury, was sidelined for the second time.
An ailing Cameron Johnson was also absent for the Phoenix Suns, who made a total of 17 of 31 three-pointers and recorded a throwing effectiveness of 56.4 percent.
Previously, the Suns had twice reached the NBA Finals and both failed after being beaten by the Boston Celtics in 1976 and the Chicago Bulls in 1993. Both NBA finals lasted six games.
Phoenix had not played in the playoffs since 2010 before the current season, including a win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets, before being tested by the Clippers.
Los Angeles led by six points early in the third quarter before Phoenix scored 21 of the next 31 points to make it 89-72 thanks to Mikal Bridges' fast break with 4 minutes 1 second left in the period.
The Clippers hit back with 10 points in a row topped off by two 3-pointers from Morris and Nicolas Batum to close to a seven-point gap with 1 minute 43 seconds remaining.
Paul followed with eight points in a row which put the Suns in the lead by 15 points before they took a 97-83 lead ahead of the final period.
Paul continued his prolific game with three consecutive runs into basketball at the start of the fourth quarter, he scored 19 points in the quarter, to move Phoenix's lead to 105-85 in the last 9 minutes 39 seconds. As the Clippers narrowed the deficit to 15 points, Paul scored a total of four points to make it 111-92 with 7 minutes 42 seconds remaining.
Ayton then caught up with a driving shot before Paul scored two points and a three-pointer to move the margin to 26 points with 5 minutes 49 seconds left. Paul then changed the position again to 119-92, and Phoenix closed the game with a convincing victory.
Devin Booker ON THE ATTACK! @Suns 80@LAClippers 67Game 6 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/f5ceAlUpv9
— NBA (@NBA) July 1, 2021
Reggie Jackson scored 13 points, DeMarcus Cousins added 12 and Beverley had 11 for Los Angeles, who had a 41.8 percent pitch effectiveness and made 12 of a total of 39.