PHOENIX — When the fourth quarter of Game 1 started, the Clippers and Suns were tied at 93. Both teams had taken heavy-handed runs from the other through three quarters. The Suns extended a 57-54 halftime lead to eight points with 7:13 left in the third quarter. The Clippers answered right back with a 16-2 run in about 3.5 minutes. Then Phoenix responded with a 15-6 run.
Paul George had 16 of his 34 points in the third quarter. Devin Booker had 18 of his 40 points in the third quarter.
But George started the fourth quarter on the bench, while Booker never sat after the 5:54 mark of the second quarter. And it was a 21-11 fourth quarter run led by Booker that highlighted his 40-point triple double and enabled the Suns to beat the Clippers 120-114 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Booker added 13 rebounds and 11 assists while making more 3s (3-of-7) than he did in his three regular season games against the Clippers combined (2-of-11).
