Western Conference Recaps, April 16: Russell Westbrook's Late Block Helped Los Angeles Clippers Hold Off Phoenix Suns

Russell Westbrook didn’t let his imperfect shooting stop him from making the biggest play of the night for the Los Angeles Clippers.

With 12 seconds remaining, Devin Booker attempted a layup but was blocked by Westbrook. It sealed a 115-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Although Westbrook finished with just nine points, he made up for it on defense. He guarded Kevin Durant at times, causing him to struggle at finding his shot at times.

"My whole career, I've been priding myself every season to do everything,” Westbrook said. “I think I'm one of those guys that can do everything each and every night. Whatever's needed of me to win the game, I'll do it."

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 38 points, 13 in the fourth quarter. Eric Gordon scored 19 points and Norman Powell recorded 19 off the bench. It was needed because hours before the series it was reported Paul George could miss the series due to a knee injury

Durant went scoreless in the first quarter while attempting just four shots, but he snapped out of it by finishing with 27 points and 11 assists. Booker had 26 points and Torrey Craig 22.

Game 2 is Tuesday in Phoenix.

OTHER NOTES:

-Jamal Murray shook off a rough start to lead the Denver Nuggets to a victory.

After scoring just nine points in the first half, Murray finished with 24 to help the Nuggets grab a 109-80 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was his first playoff game since the NBA bubble. He missed the 2022 playoffs due to an ACL injury.

“I told him the other day I feel like he's better now than before the injury,” said Porter, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. “I know he probably doesn't feel it, but just his overall game, his awareness, he had like a year off where he had to just watch.”

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 15 points while Nikola Jokic had just 13 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 18 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Denver.

-The Los Angeles Lakers are led by arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

On Sunday, LeBron James was outshined by two members of his supporting cast.

Lakers reserves Rui Hachimura led them with 29 points while Austin Reaves had 23 points in a 128-112 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series.

James finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists while Anthony Davis, the Lakers' other All-Star, had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks.

The Lakers now hold the homecourt advantage on the higher-seeded Grizzlies, who lost star guard Ja Morant to apparent wrist injury late in the fourth quarter.

The game seemed to take a turn when Lakers center Davis left the first half with an apparent shoulder injury in the final two minutes. Davis returned for the second half.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Memphis.

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.