Chris Paul powers Suns to 3-1 lead over shorthanded Clippers

Phoenix got huge performances from Paul, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on Saturday

The Phoenix Suns used a huge fourth quarter from Chris Paul to close out the Los Angeles Clippers and take a 3-1 series lead with a 112-100 win Saturday afternoon. Paul got 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to go along with nine assists and four rebounds. But he wasn't alone in this win. Kevin Durant had his best performance of the series, racking up 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Devin Booker totaled 27 points. 

It was a complete effort from Phoenix's Big 3, but it wasn't easy as the Clippers hung around until there were three minutes left in the game. Russell Westbrook led L.A. with 37 points, but it wasn't enough to outpace a potent Suns team. It was a great effort from the shorthanded Clippers, but now they'll face elimination in Game 5 back in Phoenix. 

Here's three takeaways from Phoenix's win.

1. Clutch Chris Paul

Paul was coming off a Game 3 performance in which he went just 5 of 18 from the field, committed an uncharacteristic three turnovers and finished the game with just 11 points. The Suns still got the win, but it was obvious that Phoenix needed him to bounce back from that subpar performance. For the first three quarters of Game 4, it didn't appear like Paul was going to get that bounce back performance. At the start of the fourth quarter he only had seven points, was 3 of 8 from the field and the Suns were clinging to a five-point lead.

Then vintage Chris Paul decided to take over in the fourth quarter. As the Clippers tried to keep pace with Phoenix, Paul proceeded to score 12 points on 5 of 9 from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range to not just keep the lead for the Suns put effectively put the game out of reach. This 3-pointer with just under four minutes left in the game gave the Suns an 11-point lead and ended up being the dagger that iced the game for the Suns:

Right after that, Paul then got a steal, and after a Torrey Craig missed 3-pointer CP3 corralled the offensive board and threw up this circus shot which inexplicably went in.

You can tell by Paul's reaction that he didn't even expect that to go in, but it was just that type of game for the veteran guard. After the game, Suns coach Monty Williams tipped his cap to Paul's bounce back performance.

"I think the mental fortitude that it takes to come back from the game [Paul] had the other day, and all three of those guys are trying to figure out, 'you go, I go,' that kind of thing," Williams said. "I though all three of them were in 'go' mode today."

Williams isn't wrong, after two huge performances from Booker to get the Suns previous two wins, this Game 4 victory felt like the most balanced performance from Phoenix's three-headed monster in Paul, Booker and Durant. With the limited time this core of players has gotten with each other, they've managed to figure things out on the fly and Game 4 felt like the start of something for the Suns going forward. 

2. Where would the Clippers be without Russell Westbook?

When the Clippers picked up Westbrook after he was bought out by the Utah Jazz following a trade from the Lakers, many thought it was a bad idea. After all, Westbrook just had an unsuccessful, well-chronicled stint with the Lakers in which he was continuously made to be the scapegoat for the purple and gold's failures in the first half of the season. It's true, Westbrook's time with the Lakers was a disappointment, and it just came down to a lack of fit. He's a ball-dominant guard who needed to learn how to play off the ball, something that never clicked with the Lakers.

But this playoff series has shown that while he didn't fit with the Lakers, he's still capable of being a highly productive player in this league. The Clippers have put the ball in his hands and allowed him the freedom to do the things he excels at. He finished Game 4 with 37 points, and was the main reason that the Clippers were even in the game down the stretch. Not only that but he shot the ball incredibly efficiently, going 17 of 29 from the floor, on top of six rebounds, four assists a steal and a block. 

It was the second-straight game of at least 30 points for Westbrook, the first time he's done that since April 2018 when he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook also became just the second player in NBA playoff history to score at least 37 points without attempting a single free throw, joining Chuck Person in 1991. That's just an insane stat, and just elevates how impressive Westbrook was in Game 4, and throughout this series.

With the Clippers severely shorthanded due to injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Westbrook has more than stepped up in their absence and has made this series competitive in each game. It's safe to say that signing him back in February has worked out, because if the Clippers hadn't, this series wouldn't be as entertaining and competitive as it is.

3. Suns need to close this series out on Tuesday

After the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night, it's looking like the Nuggets will sweep that series on Sunday, giving them a few more days of rest before the second round. With that in mind, the Suns would be smart to close the Clippers out on Tuesday, because the longer this series goes, the less rest Durant, Paul and Booker are going to get. 

Durant and Booker eclipsed the 40-minute mark in playing time for Game 4, and Paul was just shy of that with 38 minutes. With how short the Suns are on depth, they need those guys to get all the rest they can steal, especially as they prepare to take on a deep Denver team that won't be shorthanded like the Clippers currently are. Keep in mind, Durant isn't too far removed from that ankle sprain that sidelined him for a few weeks at the tail end of the regular season. Prior to that he was out for over a month with an MCL sprain, so this is really the most time he's played consistently in a couple months. Closing out this series early and getting Durant and everyone else enough rest right now should be the priority going into Tuesday night's game. 

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:44 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

A dagger triple from CP3

After struggling for most of this series, Chris Paul just drained a 3-pointer to give the Suns an 11-point lead. Feels like Phoenix can hit cruise control from here on out. 

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:41 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Where would the Clippers be without Westbrook in this series?

Win or lose, you have to give a ton of credit to Westbrook in this series. Without Kawhi Leonard for two-straight games and Paul George sidelined for all of it, Westbrook has kept the Clippers competitive and have a real shot at tying up this series at two games apiece. Given all the criticism he's received over the last several years, this is a really cool moment to see.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:38 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Heavyweight battle in L.A.

The Suns and Clippers are just trading buckets down the stretch, and we've seen outstanding shots from Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant. The Suns carry a 102-96 lead with 5 minutes left, but the Clippers are hanging around still.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:34 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

The rare 8-second violation on Booker

You typically don't see NBA players commit the 8-second violation, especially when the defense isn't pressuring them, and yet Booker leisurely walked the ball up the floor and got called for it. Costly mistake by the Suns.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:31 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Important stretch for the Suns coming up

After that Booker 3, the Suns are up 91-83 and they have a real opportunity to put the game out of reach in the next couple minutes. They've moved the ball incredibly well, and are forcing turnovers on the other end, they just have to keep their foot on the gas.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:27 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Plumlee been a huge factor for the Clippers

On back-to-back possessions, Plumlee blocked Chris Paul's shot as time expired. Then he blocked Kevin Durant at the rim to get the Clippers out in transition. This stretch from him has been impressive, and he's been a factor in this game.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:21 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

In store for an exciting finish in the fourth quarter

The Clippers have once again hung around long enough to make this a game in the fourth quarter. The Suns are clinging onto an 83-78 lead and we've seen some big-time buckets from both sides. Durant and Booker taken turns carrying the Suns, while Russell Westbrook has been doing everything for the Clippers.

[Apr 22, 2023 at 5:15 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Ball movement has been beautiful for Phoenix

There was a play a few moments ago where the Clippers sent a late double team to Booker on a drive, he sent it back out to Chris Paul on the perimeter and in the process L.A. lost track of Booker and he relocated to the corner for a wide open jumper, which he drained. It's that type of ball movement that makes this Suns team such a pain to guard.