![]() After sinking the two free throws, the Clippers point guard landed the game-sealing block on Booker while collecting the ensuing rebound. The next 40 seconds largely determined the game’s outcome, as the Clippers crashed the offensive glass over that span for three rebounds off a trio of misses, with Booker eventually fouling Westbrook with the Suns down one with 17.7 seconds left. Speaking of 3-pointers, LA connected on three in a row from range - two from Leonard and one from Gordon - to seize a six-point edge with just 1:33 left to play. In the regular season, however, Westbrook is 0-2 under those conditions. “I know they got a lot of extra attempts on offensive rebounds that led to open 3’s,” Booker said.Īs mentioned before, Westbrook now owns a record of 2-0 in the playoffs when he shoots 3-for-19 from the field. The Clippers deployed an entire rotation of defenders to disrupt Durant that started with Westbrook and included Nicolas Batum, Eric Gordon and even Kawhi Leonard late when the game hung in the balance. Westbrook also set a tone defensively with his physicality guarding Durant. LA dominated Phoenix 15-6 on the offensive glass, with five of those precious boards coming in the fourth quarter alone. Westbrook listened and followed through, gobbling up a game-high five offensive rebounds, which ultimately proved backbreaking for the Suns. You bring us way more than just scoring the basketball, so don’t let that affect your game.” “Don’t get frustrated with missing shots. ![]() “I told him during the game that your scoring is not that important,” Clippers coach Ty Lue said. Russell Westbrook overcomes a 3-for-19 shooting performance by doing 'the other stuff.' The play gave LA another possession, which led to Eric Gordon extending the lead with a couple of free throws that made the score 113-108 with 7.9 seconds left. As the clock wound down to 10.1 ticks remaining, the point guard blocked an attempted Devin Booker drive at the rim, and then showcased the presence of mind to knock the ball off the Suns’ guard’s leg out of bounds. The 34-year-old drilled a pair of free throws to give the Clippers 111-108 lead. ![]() With the shot clanging off the rim and backboard all night, Westbrook pushed hard in other ways to make an impact in LA’s victory. So, sh-if it works, then hey, I’m with that.” He did that against the Suns, finishing with nine points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. See, the point guard’s career postseason record is 2-0 when he shoots exactly 3-for-19. Gold shirt open, necklace dangling, Russell Westbrook tried, but couldn’t hold back the laughter when asked what’s so special about shooting 3-for-19 from the floor. We’ll get into all that and more in our five takeaways, and if Sunday’s clash was any indication, a hotly contested affair awaits Tuesday at the Footprint Center for Game 2. “Those three 3’s they hit late in the fourth were huge. “A very back-and-forth game all game,” said forward Kevin Durant, who finally lost an outing in a Suns uniform after an 8-0 start with the new team. Sadly, those fans haven’t witnessed a Phoenix postseason victory in Footprint Center since Game 5 of the 2022 Western Conference semifinals. The 17,701 in attendance represented the 75th consecutive sellout crowd at the venue if we’re counting both the regular season and the playoffs. PHOENIX – Scattered throughout the concourse near Section 101 of the Footprint Center, stunned fans clad in purple and orange scrambled for the exits in near silence in the aftermath of the visiting LA Clippers stealing Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals 115-110. ![]() ![]() Russell Westbrook comes up big down the stretch as the Clippers take a 1-0 lead in the series over the Suns. ![]()
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