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The LA Clippers staved off elimination by defeating the Phoenix Suns 116-102 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. The Suns continue to lead the series 3-2, however.
The Clippers led most of the way and kept the Suns at bay courtesy of Paul George, who scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds with six assists. The All-Star forward carried his injury-riddled LA Clippers team, who were without Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac and Serge Ibaka, to an important victory.
The Phoenix Suns were led by Devin Booker, who scored 31 points and had his best performance of the series since Game 1. Chris Paul added 22 points and eight assists for the Suns, who played from behind for most of the game.
Here are 5 reasons why the Phoenix Suns lost Game 5 against the LA Clippers:
#1 Phoenix Suns' poor 3-point shooting
The Phoenix Suns struggled with their 3-point shooting in Game 5, making just 9-of-26 from beyond the arc. Chris Paul (0-of-6) and Jae Crowder (0-of-4) were the main culprits for the Suns’ woes with every missed 3-pointer causing their ship to slowly sink deeper.
Booker was able to make his first three 3-pointers but made just 1-of-3 afterwards. The Suns failed to capitalize on his hot hand early on, when he scored 19 points in the first half.
#2 No one could contain LA Clippers' Paul George in the third quarter
The LA Clippers forward was virtually unstoppable in the third quarter, exploding to score 20 huge points. The Phoenix Suns consistently allowed George to get forward and failed to make it hard for him when he rained threes in the period.
The Phoenix Suns defense was all over the place throughout the game. But it was most evident in their inability to put the clamps on George in the second half.
#3 Phoenix Suns forgot Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton has been the Phoenix Suns’ ace in this series. He was one of the key players who could potentially be the difference between winning and losing against the LA Clippers. Without Ivica Zubac, who was ruled out with an injury, Game 5 provided an opportunity to give Ayton the ball down low and let him feast on smaller opponents.
But the Suns played right into the hands of the LA Clippers, who allowed them to keep shooting 3-pointers. Ayton was hardly fed the ball, taking just nine shots the whole night. He finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
#4 Phoenix Suns’ poor transition defense
The LA Clippers' fast breaks were a beauty to watch, especially in the first half when they scored 13 of their 19 fast-break points. Consequently, the Phoenix Suns’ transition defense was atrocious, as evidenced by DeMarcus Cousins’ steal and coast-to-coast basket.
With the Suns making just eight fast-break points of their own, they gave up too much in transition to have any chance of winning this game.
#5 Reggie Jackson does it again for LA Clippers
During a crucial moment in the fourth quarter when the Phoenix Suns were making a final run, Reggie Jackson doused cold water on that rally by draining two threes and a fast-break dunk in less than two minutes.
The 31-year-old veteran calmly sank the two 3-pointers sandwiching George’s basket to extend his side's lead. This came right after the Suns had cut the LA Clippers' lead to 10. Jackson's dunk then made it a 12-point margin.
The Phoenix Suns needed to make stops to catch up in the fourth quarter. But they practically exchanged baskets instead, scoring just 24 points while the LA Clippers had 25.
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