Phoenix Suns Headed to First N.B.A. Finals in Almost 30 Years
The Phoenix Suns, after missing the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, are headed to the N.B.A. finals for the first time since 1993.
With a 130-103 road out of the Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, Phoenix won the Western Conference finals by four games to two and secured a berth in the finals, starting July 6 or July 8. They will face either the Atlanta Hawks or the Milwaukee Bucks, who are tied at two games apiece in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.
The Suns failed to close out the series at home on Monday night when they had the chance, but Chris Paul, the former Clipper, made sure they didn’t squander another opportunity — clinching his first career trip to the finals in the process. Paul scored a career playoff high-tying 41 points, including 14 of his team’s 16 points in a game-breaking span bridging the third and fourth quarters, to turn the game into a runaway and provide a fitting capper to the Suns’ surge through the West.
Paul made 7 of 8 attempts from 3-point range after converting just 2 of 16 from long range in the previous three games of the series. Devin Booker (22 points), Jae Crowder (19) and Deandre Ayton (16 points and 17 rebounds) also made notable contributions as the short-handed Clippers, playing their 20th game in 41 days, finally faded down the stretch.
