Going into the third quarter, the Phoenix Suns had a real chance to make a run against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers, much like in Game 1, didn’t let up in allowing Phoenix to take a decent lead for most of the game.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Russell Westbrook proved once more to be a man on a mission. Despite both Westbrook and the Clippers’ intensity, it couldn’t match the Suns’ talent during the second half.
Once the intensity matched the talent for Phoenix, it was all too much for L.A. Given that, the Suns were able to seal Game 2, tying the series at 1-1.
Durant Keeps Making the Plays
Many were expecting a momentous scoring outburst from Kevin Durant on Tuesday. While he didn’t necessarily have a huge scoring night, he did continue another trend.
Durant has become more of a playmaker over the past few years. Yet with the playoffs on the line, it was a foregone conclusion almost that he would contribute more in a scoring fashion with Chris Paul as the distributor.
Durant has changed that narrative so far this series. He ended the night with five assists while also scoring 25 points.
In Game 1, the 6’10” forward dished out an amazing 11 assists. The veteran mindset of Durant has allowed him to become more of a facilitator without overusing his offensive duties when his shot isn’t falling.
Booker Controls the Third Quarter
Devin Booker made sure to put his stamp on the intense matchup against L.A. He ended the game with 38 points, shooting 14-of-22 from the floor. His real run, however, came in the third quarter.
He went 7-for-8 in the third quarter, resulting in 18 points. As such, it helped Phoenix maintain a lead going into the fourth quarter. With the help of Durant, the Suns had a decent chance of shutting the Clippers off going into the fourth quarter.
Booker continued his dominance going into the fourth quarter. L.A. opted to go into a drop coverage against the Suns, and Booker made them pay for it.
Torrey Craig Arrives
Craig was nothing short of phenomenal from downtown in Game 2. The 6’7″ forward shot 5-of-8 from three-point range for 17 points. He also had two steals during the contest.
Craig has often been regulated to the bench for most of the season. Yet against the Clippers with certain matchups, Craig’s presence was significantly needed along with his veteran IQ. Regardless of how the remainder of the series plays out, Craig will surely remain a regularity in high minutes.
The Suns will travel to for Game 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. Game 3 will take place on Thursday.
