The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers play in Game 5 of their NBA Playoffs series at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Follow our score updates for the latest on the game.
Durant slow to get up after hard foul by Westbrook
Suns fans nearly had their breath taken away for nearly a minute after seeing Kevin Durant fall hard on his back in the second quarter.
The play happened after Durant rebounded a missed layup by Clippers’ Bones Hyland at 7:21, then he took the ball coast to coast. Durant’s former longtime Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook spearheaded him WWE-style, and Durant fell hard on his back in the left lane after the shooting foul.
He was slow to return to his feet and needed his teammates’ aid as he grabbed his lower back. Durant made both free throws to tie the game at 45-45.
The Suns are currently ahead, 59-57 at 2:53 left in the first half. Durant has 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting.
Suns finally win a 1st quarter in series
Phoenix outscored L.A. in the first quarter, 32-30. That’s the first time Phoenix has won the first quarter in this series, after being outscored by L.A., 116-92, in the previous four games.
Phoenix’s largest lead in Game 5’s first quarter was four from Devin Booker’s jumpshot assisted by sixth man Josh Okogie at the 5:52 mark.
More:Suns’ Booker, Ayton know importance of outscoring Clippers in 1st quarter to win Game 5
Suns lead Clippers late in first quarter
At the first timeout called by Phoenix at 2:07, Clippers are down 27-24.
Clippers’ Norman Powell leads all scorers with 11 points (4-of-7 shooting, 2-of-3 from deep).
Devin Booker has the Suns’ team-high 10 points (4-of-8 FG) with three assists and two rebounds.
Booker off to another fast start for Suns
This looks like it could be another dominant scoring exhibition for Devin Booker.
At the game’s first timeout taken by the Clippers with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter, the Suns were up 12-8 and Booker has already scored eight points. He’s 3-of-4 from the field, two assists, and has a steal from defending against Clippers’ Russell Westbrook. Booker’s second assist came when he passed to Kevin Durant on a fast break after his steal.
Booker is the postseason’s second-best scorer, averaging 34.8 points per game behind the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler (36.5).
Starting lineups
The Suns will have the same lineup once again as they’ve had since the start of this series. That consists off Torrey Craig and Kevin Durant as the forwards, Chris Paul and Devin Booker in the backcourt, and Deandre Ayton at center.
The Clippers are starting Marcus Morris Sr., Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Eric Gordon and Ivica Zubac. Morris got the nod to start for the second consecutive game to replace the Clippers’ injured top-scorer Kawhi Leonard (knee). Powell is in for the third straight game replacing the team’s other All-Star Paul George, who’s been out for the entire series.
The Suns vs. Clippers game on Tuesday Tuesday can be seen on TNT, Bally Sports Arizona, Bally Sports SoCal and Clippervision.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in Phoenix.
You can see the complete schedule for the Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs series here.
USA TODAY Sports’ Sportsbook Wire has the Suns winning the game over the Clippers on Tuesday, 116-110 in its prediction for Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs series.
It writes: “The Suns average 113.6 points per game, only 0.5 more points than the 113.1 the Clippers give up. When Phoenix scores more than 113.1 points, it is 31-10-2 against the spread and 33-10 overall. Los Angeles has a 28-16 record against the spread and a 29-15 record overall when giving up fewer than 113.6 points. The Clippers score an average of 113.6 points per game, just 2.0 more points than the 111.6 the Suns allow to opponents.”
You can read its breakdown of the game, as well as other picks and predictions for the contest here.
The Suns are a 12.5-point favorite over the Clippers, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Phoenix is -800 on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +550
The over/under for the game is set at 224.5 points.
You can see more odds for the Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs series here.
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