Back in series, Clippers try to draw level with Suns

After roaring back to life in the Western Conference finals without superstar Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers can level the series at home in Game 4 on Saturday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Leonard missed his third straight game of the current series Thursday and fifth consecutive in the playoffs due to a sprained knee, with Los Angeles going 3-2 in that stretch and extending a season that appeared doomed without him. Leonard was ruled out Friday for Game 4.

The Clippers won Game 3 at home 106-92 and while they still trail 2-1 in the series, they move forward knowing they held the Suns to 38.9-percent shooting while holding Phoenix star Devin Booker to 15 points. The Clippers dominated the second half on the way to victory.

Adding to their optimism is that while they don't have a key piece to their puzzle in Leonard, they stopped the Suns even on a night when Phoenix star Chris Paul returned from COVID-19 protocol. Paul had 15 points with 12 assists but combined with Booker to shoot 10 of 40 from the field.

Also key: The Clippers didn't let their heartbreaking defeat at Phoenix in Game 2 -- when the Suns' Deandre Ayton scored on an alley-oop in the final second -- permeate into Game 3.

"You know, we were on the plane; we talked about it," Clippers star Paul George said. "We hashed it out. And immediately we got ready for Game 3. Simple as that. We had to move on. I thought we did a great job of moving on. I moved on. I know I have to be better. I have to be better."

George had 26 points in Game 2 but missed two late free throws that could have given L.A. a three-point advantage with 8.0 seconds remaining preceding Ayton's game-winning basket.

In Game 3, George responded by leading the Clippers with 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.

Reggie Jackson continued to deliver for the Clippers with 23 points in Game 3. He averaged 10.7 points per game in the regular season but has scored 17.6 in the playoffs -- averaging 23.0 in the five games Leonard has been out.

The Clippers have fallen behind 0-2 in all three series this postseason. They won Game 3 every time and have won Game 4 in each of the first two series.

"This team is resilient," Jackson said. "We always believed. We never give in. We never say die."

Just like George vowed to be better in Game 3, Paul is saying the same for the Suns in Game 4.

"They just outplayed us, you know what I mean?" Paul said. "We didn't make shots. You could tell they had a lot more energy. I got to be better. I shot terrible. I've got to pick up the pace. We'll be ready for Game 4."

In addition to Paul working his way back into the flow, Booker was adjusting to playing with a plastic face guard after sustaining a broken nose following a collision with Clippers guard Patrick Beverley in Game 2.

Booker was 5 of 21 from the field and 1 of 7 from 3-point range. He had five assists with five rebounds after posting a triple-double in Game 1.

"It's fine, honestly," Booker said of the mask. "I honestly don't really see it or it doesn't affect me."

More bothersome to the Suns seemed to be playing without guard Cameron Payne, who was effective in the first two games of the series as Paul's replacement but played just four minutes of Game 3 because of a left ankle injury.

"Obviously, he's been a spark for us," Booker said. "He's made a lot happen for us when he's been out there. I just hope he's in good health."

Clippers forward Marcus Morris (left knee) will be a game-time decision, coach Ty Lue said.

--Field Level Media

Thompson hot hand carries Warriors into Game 7 with Rockets

OAKLAND, Calif. — Klay Thompson flashed back to a night he left the arena still in uniform, furious about his forgettable performance against Denver.

It used to be he struggled to shake off a bad night, or even a bad start to a game.

Now, he just keeps shooting. Whenever he feels like it, from wherever. No conscience. A hand or two in his face, no matter.


“I was not always like this. I used to be so hard on myself, especially early in my career,” Thompson said. “… I learned, as I get older, if you play with passion, you play hard, and you leave the game saying I gave everything I have tonight in those 48 minutes, you can live with the result.”

The Warriors’ season lives on largely thanks to Thompson’s shooting touch. Golden State is one win from a fourth straight NBA Finals, headed back to Houston for Monday night’s Game 7.

He came through with the defending champions’ season on the line in another do-or-die Game 6, just as he did two years ago at Oklahoma City. This time he scored 35 points with nine 3-pointers as the Warriors rallied with a huge second half to beat the Rockets 115-86 on Saturday night to force a deciding game in the Western Conference finals.

His defense shined, too. Oh, and the typically subdued Thompson let his emotions flow for all to see: He flexed his biceps Draymond Green style, pumped his arms like Kevin Durant and yelled out the way Stephen Curry often does at Oracle Arena.

Thompson has long been content to be the understated All-Star among the four in Golden State’s starting lineup.

“I just wanted to play with as much passion as I could tonight. Probably sounded more vocal than I usually am,” Thompson acknowledged. “When your back’s against the wall, if your shot’s not falling, you can always control your passion and how hard you play. Usually when I do that, it trickles over to other aspects of my game.”

Curry’s Splash Brother did it in 2016 when he scored 41 points against Durant’s former Thunder team with the Warriors facing elimination. They went on to win Game 7 before falling to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in a seven-game NBA Finals.

Durant had no interest in recollecting, smiling and laughing with Curry as he said, “next question.”


As for Curry?

“I think we both blocked that whole year out of our memory,” the two-time MVP quipped.

No arguing they both appreciate Thompson’s no-fear shooting approach and ability to almost single-handedly turn the tide of a game with a timely 3-pointer or two — or nine.

Once Golden State got going in transition, following clutch defensive stops, Thompson found the looks he so prefers from long range.

“I feel like we’re the best team in the world and most fun team in the world to watch when we’re pushing that ball, getting defensive stops and making plays,” he said. “We’ve got too much talent not just to hit singles like Coach always says. Trust the next man ahead of us. It will end up working in our favor most of the time.”

Thompson shot 13 for 23 and 9 of 14 from deep as the Warriors responded from an early 17-point deficit to dominate James Harden and Houston the final three quarters, outscoring the Rockets 93-47 after trailing 39-22 at the end of the first.

Thompson went a combined 20 of 32 from 3-point range in those two impressive Game 6 shows, Saturday and in 2016.

“I think Klay doesn’t worry too much about repercussions. He doesn’t worry about judgment and results. I think he just loves to play,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s so comfortable in his own skin. I just think he wants to go out there and hoop, and he doesn’t worry about much else. So the pressure doesn’t seem to bother him much. He just competes and plays. As I said, the two-way ability of this guy hounding the MVP of the league, most likely, all game, and continuing to rain down 3-pointers, he’s amazing.”

source: sports.inquirer.net