After defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in six games, the Phoenix Suns are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.
Dominant series
Chris Paul and Devin Booker were both huge for the Suns in this Conference Finals series. Paul, who has been a premier point guard in the league for almost 16 years now, is headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career.
The Suns’ point guard averaged 24 points per game, 8.8 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game in this series. He also poured in a game-high 41 points in the series-clinching game.
Booker, on the other hand, played most of the series with a broken nose. After a bump with Patrick Beverley in Game 2, Booker confirmed he broke his nose in three places. During Game 6, Booker was hit in the nose again by Paul George. That didn’t stop the Suns’ star from being dominant, as he powered through the pain. Booker averaged 25.5 points per game this series.
Terrific series for Paul George
After being clowned on social media for his performance in the bubble last year, Paul George silenced this series’s critics. The Clippers’ star managed to take a very talented Phoenix Suns team to six games without the help of his co-star, Kawhi Leonard.
George averaged 28.7 points per game this series. His best game of the series came in Game 6. Down 3-1 in the series, George poured in a playoff career-high 41 points to extend his club’s season.
Injuries plagued the season
Despite a playoff run in which where the franchise reached the Conference Finals for the first time in history, the team’s injuries were just too much to overcome for the LA Clippers. Kawhi Leonard missed the final eight games of the Clippers season, including the entirety of the Conference Finals.
LA was also without Serge Ibaka, who underwent back surgery a few weeks ago. The Clippers center missed all of the NBA Playoffs. Ivica Zubac also missed the final two games of the Phoenix Suns series.
Suns await the winner of Hawks vs. Bucks series
The Phoenix Suns will now wait to see who meets them in the NBA Finals. The Suns will face the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks series. Their respective series is currently tied at two games apiece. Phoenix will have a home-court advantage in the finals, regardless of who wins they face.
