Devin Booker Powers Suns Past Clippers to Even Series

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns were able to snatch back momentum in their playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 123-109 win in Game 2, pushing the first-round tie to 1-1 as things are set to head back to LA for Games 3/4.

What a way to avoid a 0-2 deficit with two road games. According to Oddsshark, only 20 teams in 282 seven-game playoff series have ever come back to win. The last team to do so in the first round were the Portland Trail Blazers in 2016 - who overcame the deficit against the Clippers.

Prior to the game, Suns coach Monty Williams spoke on the importance of bouncing back after a Game 1 loss.

“It’s like any game you lose in the playoffs. There is a level of wanting to do better, making better decisions, all of that," he said.

"Talking about the things that matter. The rebounding, awareness on certain environments and plays that they run and overall, just trying to play better on both ends. The rebounding came up for sure. We just have good dialog with the players about what we need to do.”

The Suns were led by Devin Booker's 38 points, falling just shy of what would have been his fifth 40-point playoff performance. His highest was 47 when the Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the first round back in 2021.

Every Phoenix starter finished with 14 points or more and a +/- in double digits.

The Clippers built a lead as large as 13 in the first half before the Suns came back strong in the third quarter, a similar story to Game 1. However, Phoenix managed to maintain their lead down the stretch rather than collapsing. Their lead grew by as much as 13 in the second half.

The Suns were incredibly efficient shooting, making 58.8% of their field goals and 41.7% from downtown.

Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 points, marking back-to-back 30+ point performances. Russell Westbrook finished close behind with 28 of his own.

Game 3 will be Thursday, April 20 at 7:30 PM PST in Los Angeles.