Booker Gets First Triple-Double, Suns Beat Clippers 120-114

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Phoenix Suns overcame Chris Paul’s absence to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Paul sat out because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard missed his third straight game because of a sprained right knee.

Tied at 93 to start the fourth, the Suns went on a 12-2 run and pulled ahead 105-95 on Cam Johnson’s dunk with 8:08 remaining. The Clippers wouldn’t go away, though, cutting a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes to 116-114 when Terance Mann hit a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left.

Booker scored on a dunk on the next possession to seal Phoenix’s seventh straight victory, getting a free lane to the basket on the blown defensive coverage.

🏀 FINAL SCORE THREAD 🏀

Devin Booker (40 PTS, 13 REB, 11 AST) goes off for his 1st career #NBAPlayoffs triple-double, helping the @Suns take Game 1 of the #NBAWCF presented by AT&T! #ThatsGame

Game 2: Tuesday, 9pm/et on ESPN

Deandre Ayton: 20 PTS, 9 REB
Paul George: 34 PTS pic.twitter.com/WMdHiC0yyz

— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2021

Game 2 is on Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Booker was productive and efficient in one of his best games of his career. He shot 15 of 29 from the field, carving apart a defense that had to play just 36 hours after closing out the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

The third quarter featured a stellar scoring duel between Booker and L.A.’s Paul George, who finished with 34 points. Booker scored 18 points in the quarter, and George had 15, including a 3-pointer that tied it at 93 heading to the fourth.

That 1-0 mood. 😤

40 PTS, 13 REB, 11 AST for @DevinBook in the @Suns Game 1 win! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs

Game 2: Tuesday at 9pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/6r4HeXj0jP

— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2021

The Suns led 76-68 midway through the third but George scored eight straight points — including six points on two long 3-pointers — to tie it up. It was the start of a 16-2 run that helped Los Angeles take an 84-78 lead.

Booker and the Suns responded quickly. Booker scored 12 points — mostly on mid-range jumpers — in the final 3:09 of the third to get Phoenix back on track.

Deandre Ayton had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Suns. Cameron Payne started for Paul and had 11 points and nine assists.

Devin Booker is the first @Suns player to record a triple-double in the #NBAPlayoffs since Steve Nash in May of 2005. pic.twitter.com/tEn6qlpbK7

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 20, 2021

Reggie Jackson added 24 points for the Clippers.

The game was a rare stage for both franchises: The Clippers are in the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history, while the Suns haven’t been this far in 11 years and have never won an NBA title.

BIG-TIME BOOGIE

The Clippers got a boost from veteran big man Demarcus Cousins in the second quarter. He came into the game and almost immediately threw down a monster dunk over Dario Saric. He scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in his first five minutes on the court.

The talented but oft-injured Cousins has only played in two playoff games this season. The four-time All-Star averaged 7.8 points in 16 regular season games with the Clippers this season.

😱 BIG BOOGIE SLAM! 😱#NBAPlayoffs on ABC pic.twitter.com/BKbOb2JTDB

— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2021

AWARD-WINNING GM

Suns general manager James Jones was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year on Sunday. Team President Robert Sarver surprised Jones with the announcement in a short ceremony at midcourt a few minutes before tipoff.

Jones came to the team two years ago and has helped build the Valley’s best team in 11 seasons. His big move was adding Paul during the offeseason but he’s also made other key moves, like adding Payne, Torrey Craig and drafting Cameron Johnson.

The 2020-21 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year is… James Jones of the @Suns! #NBAAwards #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/FmrpE6jgt4

— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2021

He got a big ovation from the sellout crowd of 16,583.

The low-key Jones was a man of few words when handed the microphone by Sarver, thanking the crowd and then adding one sentence.

“All I can say is ”Go Suns, let’s win,” Jones said.

TIP-INS

Clippers: Leonard and forward Serge Ibaka (back surgery) didn’t play. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said on Saturday that Leonard was getting treatment on his knee in Los Angeles and wasn’t sure about his availability in Game 2.

Suns: Paul and forward Abdel Nader (right knee arthroscopy) didn’t play. Suns coach Monty Williams said Paul’s situation is “day-to-day.”