Los Angeles (USA), Apr 20 (EFE) 124-129) and lost the home court factor (1-2) because of an overwhelming Devin Booker who came away with 45 points.
The Suns guard (18 of 29 shooting plus 7 rebounds) prevented the Clippers led by an equally impressive Norman Powell, the one chosen to replace Kawhi and who dazzled with 42 points (15 of 23 shooting) from giving the bell. .
After the promising 1-1 in Phoenix, the Clippers announced hours before this third game that Kawhi would not be able to play and thus join the injured Paul George, who has not competed since mid-March.
Without their two stars on the field, Tyronn Lue’s team was proud, boasted a strong collective spirit and also had a fantastic version of Russell Westbrook (30 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists).
However, the caste of the Los Angeles team was not enough to knock down some Suns who suffered to win and in which Kevin Durant contributed 28 points and 6 rebounds.
The locals made 54.2% of their field goals but lost 18 balls, did not control the rebound (46 of 55) and only had 19 of 25 free throws compared to 35 of 46 for their rivals.
The fourth game of this tie will be played on Saturday also in Los Angeles.
SACRIFICE OF THE CLIPPERS WITHOUT AWARD
As if their pride was wounded with Kawhi and George absent, the Clippers bit early with Westbrook stealing the first ball from Durant and Powell scoring 10 points without a miss in the first quarter.
Very soft on defense and weak on every play that required an extra effort, the Suns did not give, at least in the beginning, the blow to the table that many expected for tonight.
But luckily they found an explosive version of Booker, who led some tepid Suns with 13 points (27-27).
Both Powell and Booker continued their recital in the second period.
The Suns guard reached 21 points at halftime (9 of 15 shooting) and his Clippers counterpart was even better in the first half, tremendously successful with 22 points with an excellent 8 of 10 shooting.
Phoenix threatened to take off on the scoreboard with three consecutive three-pointers by Durant, Chris Paul and Booker (42-50 with 2.25 to rest) but the Suns lacked one more march -and also will- to break the game.
Thus, the Clippers wanted to leave the match practically even (51-54) despite the fact that they lost 12 balls in the first half.
The Angelenos found an incendiary Westbrook in the third quarter (15 points) at the restart to support a Powell who returned from the locker room with the same dynamite with which he closed the first half.
But, little by little and without excessive brilliance, the Suns, with a Booker who did not slacken his imperial march at all, distanced themselves from some Clippers who began to accuse the absence of their figures.
Thus, a fabulous dunk from Durant placed +13, which was the biggest advantage of the night for the Suns up to that moment, and Booker, with a skilful layup, prevented the Clippers from cutting ground before the fourth quarter (85-94).
Despite the fact that the difference was around 10 points and that the Suns seemed to be in control, the Clippers displayed a commendable fighting spirit in the last quarter until the last moment.
Thus, the local team was only 3 points down with 1.44 to play after Deandre Ayton missed two free throws and Westbrook instead scored two in the other basket.
With the game practically upside down, Torrey Craig pulled a great triple out of his hat from the corner and Booker sealed a huge two plus one so that the Suns, in a very tight outcome, claimed victory against some tremendously worthy Clippers in the defeat.
David Villafranca
