LOS ANGELES Clippers recovered from a double-digit deficit to beat undermanned Phoenix Suns, 119-114, and clinch a playoffs seat in the 2022-2023 NBA Season on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Despite the Suns playing minus stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, the Clippers still had a hard time as they were down 48-53 at the half and faced its largest deficit of the game at 10 points in the third quarter.
Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook took turns on the offensive end as they trimmed the deficit to six after three quarters before taking control of the game in the fourth quarter and sealing the win on a layup by Kawhi Leonard.
Powell led the Clippers with 29 points off-the-bench, Westbrook chipped in 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Leonard contributed double-double 25 points and 15 rebounds.
Bones Hyland and Ivica Zubac also hit double-digits with 11 and 10, respectively, for the Clippers, which clinched the no.5 seed in Western Conference with its 44-38 and will face the Suns (45-37) in the first round of NBA Playoffs beginning on Sunday.
Saben Lee finished with career-high 25 points to banner the offense of the Suns, Darius Bazley, Jock Landale and Landry Shamet had 16, 15 and 14 markers, while Josh Okogie and Terrence Ross ended with 13 points each.
Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors relied on a record first quarter scoring to beat shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers, 157-101, and secure the no.6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
The defending champions Warriors (44-38) set an NBA record by scoring 55 points in the first quarter on their way to a lopsided victory and set a date with no. 3 ranked Sacramento Kings in the first round of playoffs.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 26 points, Moses Moody added 25 points off the bench, while Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson had 21 and 20 markers, respectively.
Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, secured the no. 7 seed heading into the play-in tournament after a 128-117 win over Utah Jazz. They will face Minnesota Timberwolves in a knockout game for the No. 7 seed.
BOX SCORE:
LOS ANGELES 119 — Powell 29, Westbrook 25, Leonard 25, Hyland 11, Zubac 10, Plumlee 9, Gordon 6, Mann 4, Batum 0, Covington 0.
PHOENIX 114 — S. Lee 25, Bazley 16, Landale 15, Shamet 14, Okogie 13, Ross 13, D. Lee 8, Wainwright 7, Craig 3.
Quarterscores: 21-28, 48-53, 82-86, 119-114./PN
