The Los Angeles Clippers (hereinafter referred to as the Clippers) defeated the Phoenix Suns (hereinafter referred to as the Phoenix), who were missing a lot of key players, after a long struggle.
The Clippers won a 119-114, 5-point win over Phoenix in the last regular league game of the 2022-23 NBA season held at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on the morning of the 10th (Korean time).
The Clippers, who won the game that day, secured 5th place in the Western Conference and face Phoenix again in the first round of the playoffs. The playoffs between the two teams attracted attention with the confrontation between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and the confrontation between Durant and Kawhi Leonard among the three small forwards in the 2010s attracted attention.메이저사이트
In the game, Norman Powell, a key sixth man, scored 29 points and 5 rebounds, including 5 3-pointers, Leonard scored 25 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists, and Westbrook scored 25 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Shaven Lee, who became Phoenix’s main guard, struggled with 25 points and 10 assists, but the team lost.
The Clippers’ journey to victory was not smooth. The Clippers, who gave the lead in the first quarter to Phoenix, brought the atmosphere with Bonds Highland’s five consecutive points. In addition, Powell also set the stage for the chase by operating the scorer, and Westbrook produced a chase score with a fast tempo push. However, thanks to the performance of Wainwright and Lee, Phoenix also took a 53-48, 5-point lead in the second quarter.
As soon as the third quarter began, the Clippers scored consecutively, including Westbrook’s three-point shot, Leonard’s mid-range jumper, and Ivica Zubac’s dunk. Then Phoenix tied the score with Landry Shamet and Josh Okogi’s outer catcher, and took the lead with Terrence Ross and Damian Lee’s jumpers all entering. The Clippers entered the 4th quarter with Powell’s 9 consecutive points awakening and Westbrook’s tempo push at the end of the quarter, chasing 82-86 and 4 points.
The organic ball flow using Mason Plumlee led the Clippers to victory. It was difficult for Phoenix players to block the Clippers’ various attack patterns derived from Plumlee’s pass. As a result, the Clippers turned around as soon as they entered clutch time, and Powell’s breakthrough score and Westbrook’s footback score and tip-in score widened the score.
In addition, Leonard, who is a strong clutch player, also helped to break down the opponent who did not give up until the end with a fadeaway jumper and a breakthrough score. Afterwards, the Clippers won over Phoenix by 119-114, 5 points, thanks to Leonard’s defensive rebound crackdown.