George Leads Clippers Over Paul And Suns, 106-92 In Game 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This time, Paul George didn’t flinch. Playoff P showed up and dragged the Los Angeles Clippers back from the brink.

George scored 27 points and the Clippers pulled away in a dominant third quarter, beating newly returned Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns 106-92 on Thursday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

“We continue to chip away, try to find ways we can be better and impose our will on opponents,” Clippers guard Reggie Jackson said. “We showed a lot of heart, a lot of fight.”

The Clippers cut their series deficit to 2-1, ending the Suns’ franchise-record playoff winning streak at nine games.

Paul George's huge Game 3 powers the @LAClippers to their first-ever #NBAWCF presented by AT&T win! They can tie the series Saturday at 9 PM ET on ESPN. #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs

Reggie Jackson: 23 PTS
Ivica Zubac: 15 PTS, 16 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/3XlFn4CTrn

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2021

“Our guys keep grinding, keep fighting,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We never give in.”

Kawhi Leonard remained out with a right knee sprain, leaving George to carry the load again. After missing two crucial free throws in a one-point loss in Game 2, George had 15 rebounds and eight assists and played a game-high 43 minutes. He made 6 of 7 free throws.

“I knew I had to be better,” George said. “All my energy was directed toward a better game.”

Paul George (27 PTS, 15 REB) and Ivica Zubac (15 PTS, 16 REB) are the first set of teammates to each tally 15+ PTS/15+ REB in an #NBAPlayoffs game since LeBron James (28 PTS, 15 REB) and Kevin Love (15 PTS, 21 REB) on June 1, 2017. pic.twitter.com/DnFP39BRz2

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 25, 2021

The Suns got Paul back after he missed the first two games while being sidelined since June 16 because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The former Clipper, who was booed heartily during intros, had 15 points and 12 assists, but was 5 of 19 from the field.

“I have to get better. I shot terrible,” Paul said. “You could tell they had a lot more energy. I got to pick up the pace.”

Congrats to @CP3 of the @Suns for becoming the 13th player in @NBAHistory with 1,000 #NBAPlayoffs ASSISTS! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/ntNFA8Wldj

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2021

Cameron Payne, who so ably filled in for Paul in the first two games, went down with a left ankle injury after playing four minutes and didn’t return.

“We missed him a lot,” Suns guard Devin Booker said.

Suns coach Monty Williams said he played Paul too much in his first game back.

“Probably got tired,” Williams said, “but it hurt us when Cam couldn’t come back so I left Chris out there for a longer stretch and that’s on me.”

Deandre Ayton led the Suns with 18 points.

Jackson added 23 points for the Clippers, and Ivica Zubac had 15 points and tied his career playoff high with 16 rebounds.

Game 4 is Saturday night at Staples Center.

After Phoenix won the first two games by a combined seven points, the teams played a close first half. George pumped up the Clippers going into the locker room with a thunderous one-handed dunk.

“That probably killed their momentum a little bit,” Jackson said. “We’re fortunate to have a guy like that that can do a little bit of everything.”

😤 @Reggie_Jackson (23 PTS) comes up big in the @LAClippers W! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs

Game 4 ⏩ Saturday, 9pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/DtjGR8p3wF

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2021

Los Angeles quickly went to work in the second half in front of 17,222 raucous, Thunder Stix-pounding fans.

“We knew we had to take care of homecourt,” George said. “We had to match their scrappiness. We can’t allow this team to play harder than us.”

The Clippers took control with the biggest run of the game, a 21-3 spurt that left them leading 71-56 in the third. Terance Mann got it going with six straight points and Jackson scored four in a row before George scored inside. Zubac dunked off George’s pass and made a pair of free throws. The Suns were limited to a 3-pointer by Paul.

“They just brought it,” Williams said. “We just didn’t match their force.”

Booker picked up his third and fourth fouls in a 42-second span during the Clippers’ run. Booker — wearing a clear mask to protect his broken nose after he and Patrick Beverley banged heads in Game 2 — was 5 of 21 from the field, making only one of seven 3-point tries, and finished with 15 points.

Paul George and the Staples Center crowd share love in #PhantomCam, following the first @LAClippers #NBAWCF presented by AT&T win in franchise history. #ThatsGame

Game 4 – Saturday, 9 PM ET, ESPN pic.twitter.com/9DFRZBrx7k

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2021

Jae Crowder, who assisted on Deandre Ayton’s winning dunk on Tuesday, fouled out with 4:51 remaining. He had nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

The Suns were just 35 of 90 from the floor, despite getting decent looks.

“We weren’t sound at all,” Williams said. “They played good defense, but we didn’t run our offense the way that we have been running for most of the playoffs.”

George capped the third by banking in a 3-pointer from just inside midcourt, and it beat the buzzer, stunning the fans and sending the Clippers into the fourth leading 80-69. He turned to the sideline and blew a kiss to his fiancé and their kids.

“I didn’t call glass, but I felt great about the shot,” said George, who attempts similar shots in pre-game. “That was one that we needed.”

PG continues his stellar #NBAPlayoffs.

🔥 27 PTS
🔥 15 REB
🔥 8 AST

The @LAClippers take Game 3.. they can tie the series with a W Saturday at 9pm/et on ESPN! #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/aU6Ijot13V

— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2021

BOOKER’S NOSE

Booker spoke to retired player Richard Hamilton on how to play wearing a mask. Hamilton broke his nose twice during the 2003-04 season and wore a clear plastic mask. It became his trademark and he wore it the rest of his career.

“Nose feels fine,” Booker said, confirming it was broken in three places. He had it reset and received several shots of painkiller.

INJURED MORRIS

Marcus Morris was close to being scratched after dealing with a sore knee. Instead, he came off the bench. He hit two big 3-pointers in the second half and finished with eight points.

“He still did a great job,” said Mann, who started in Morris’ place. “Hit some shots, played great defense, in there battling for every rebound.”

The @LAClippers are the first team in NBA history to win Game 3 after trailing 0-2 three times in the same postseason. pic.twitter.com/Kg96zoRO4s

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) June 25, 2021

TIP-INS

Suns: Fell to 10-3 in the playoffs, losing for the first time since May 27 against the Lakers at Staples Center in Game 3 of the first round. … Booker and Beverley were called for double technicals in the third. … Paul and Booker each missed their first six shots of the game and were both 2 of 10 with seven points each in the first half.

Clippers: Zubac is the first Clipper with a double-double in the first half of a postseason game since DeAndre Jordan on April 30, 2017, against Utah. … Longtime fan Billy Crystal sat courtside.