NBA Playoffs: Suns push series lead over Clippers to 3-1 with 112-100 win as Chris Paul overwhelms

Once a Clipper, Chris Paul was back in LA on Saturday to serve as the long-suffering franchise’s latest tormenter with a 12-point fourth quarter in a 112-100 Game 3 win for the Phoenix Suns, who pushed their first-round series lead to 3-1. 

Paul finished with 19 points, nine assists, three blocks and three steals. But he did have some help in the form of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, who scored 31 and 30 points, respectively, for the Suns.  

The Clippers were once again without their two top-paid stars, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, both of whom are battling right knee sprains.

Leonard has a chance at playing again this series, but George’s season could be over unless LA can advance to the second round.

While Leonard’s knee injury isn’t believed to be severe, it was apparently exacerbated by his decision to play in Game 2 after initially hurting the joint in the series opener. He missed the 2021-22 season due to a torn right ACL. Despite the knee issues, Leonard averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists in the first two games against the Suns.

Chris Paul was back in LA on Saturday to serve as the latest Clippers tormenter 

Kevin Durant (left) and Devin Booker scored 31 and 30 points, respectively, for the Suns

The Clippers, who lost Game 3 by five points, again made a strong run with Leonard watching from the bench. 

Russell Westbrook carried the Clippers in the fourth quarter. He had 14 points, including nine in a row when they twice pulled within two points.

Westbrook finished with a game-high 37 points. Norman Powell added 14 points and Terance Mann had 13 off the bench.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Phoenix.

But as the fourth wound down, the Clippers ran out of gas.

Paul had 12 points in the fourth, hitting big jumpers from all over the court each time the Los Angeles threatened.

Booker had nine rebounds and seven assists. Deandre Ayton had 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Westbrook carried the Clippers in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points down the stretch

Looking ageless at 34, Durant scored 11 points in the third, when the Suns erased an early eight-point deficit.

The Clippers scored nine straight points to open the third and take an eight-point lead. But Durant scored 11 points in the period, capped by a 3-pointer that sent the Suns into the fourth leading 83-78.

The Suns trailed by 11 points early in the second, when they outscored the Clippers 25-17 and led 48-47 at the break.

Durant picked up his third foul in the period, while Westbrook, Powell and Marcus Morris already had two fouls apiece for the Clippers.