The Los Angeles Clippers live to play another day. They face a third elimination this season in Game 5 on Monday night. The Clippers showed they weren’t ready for the season to end. As they pulled off an impressive 116-102 win over the Phoenix Suns, with a Game 6 forced win over the Clippers that goes out on Wednesday night at the Staples Center.
Paul George guided the Clippers as he hit a career-high 41 points in the playoff, along with 13 rebounds and six assists. In the process, he became the Clipper. First 40/10/5 play-off performance, George has scored at least 20 points from 18 games he has played this season. And he became the fourth player to open the season with a very long 20-point streak. The other three players are Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Paul also had some serious help from Marcus Morris, DeMarcus Cousins and Reggie Jackson. The trio combined 60 points and 1
0 rebounds. On the other side of the floor, Devin Booker scored for the Suns with 31 points. 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Chris Paul added 22 points and eight assists. However, in the end, their production wasn’t enough to end the series and be nominated. Phoenix’s first NBA Finals title since 1993.The game was an encouraging one for the Clippers and disappointing for Phoenix, but no team could last that long. As they will resume in less than 48 hours for Game 6 before it goes to that game. Here are three key takeaways from LA’s Game 6 victory.
1. Paul George answers the bell.
If the Clippers will extend their season on Monday night without Kawhi Leonard, who still has a knee injury They needed a big show from Paul George and that’s what they got. When the LA season is in balance George stepped up in a significant way. especially in the second half After scoring 11 pretty pedestrian points in the first half George exploded with 30 points in the second half. In all, he scored 41 points, the most he had in a play-off game. And his production was paramount in LA’s victory in Game 5.
It wasn’t just George who graded it. But he did it with great efficiency. George attempted just 20 shots on his way to 41 points, and he did 15. That’s 75 percent off the field. He also shot 50 per cent from distance (3 of 6) and made a total of eight free throws. He also added 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals for good measure. It was a great all-around performance from George. who continues to do a commendable job leading the Clippers in their siege when Leonard is away.
2. ‘Somebody else’ steps up to LA
Paul George was great on a Monday night. But he didn’t win the game for LA alone. On the contrary, he was greatly assisted by the actors, or “others,” as Shaquille O’Neal said: the trio of Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson and DeMarcus Cousins. Very important for L.A. Morris gave the Clippers a much-needed offense early in Game 5, while George had a slightly slow start. Morris had 13 points on 6 of 7 first-quarter shots and He finished the game with 22 points while shooting 56 percent from the field. The Clippers are now 8-0 this season when Morris shoots 50 per cent or better.
Cousins have only seen minute points for LA throughout the season, but he made the most of his on-field opportunities in Game 5. The Cousins scored 15 points in his 11 minutes on the floor and that total represents a high season career for the former. all star
If you’re Clippers, you won’t ask for much from your cousin. in the same way Jackson is still better than anyone. who are expected to play next season Jackson supplied the Clippers offensive production and Game 5 was no different. He finished with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists, and he had a game-high 21 in that period. he is in the field
If the Clippers can produce a similar performance from these three players in game 6, they will have a good chance of expanding the series again and forcing the seventh and final game.
3. Another quiet night from Mikal Bridges
Michal Bridges doesn’t have his best series against the Clippers. He has scored six points or less in three of his five games so far. And he only scored 11 total points in games 4 (six points) and 5 (five points) combined. This declining productivity isn’t ideal considering the fact that Bridges averages 13.5 points per game. For the Suns during the regular season And they rely on him for further offensive output. With the Clippers heavily focused on defense in the Booker and Paul duo, Bridges’ performance is even more important. with athleticism and ground clearance Bridges has the ability to swing the game for Phoenix to win. But for the most part, he hasn’t been a key factor in the past two games. The Suns should try to get him started in Game 6, perhaps causing him to turn off the screen to give him a chance to open up from the perimeter. When he clicked on the end of the attack It will open things up to everyone.
