12/17/2023 0 Comments Phoenix suns western conference finals![]() The previous oldest? Michael Jordan, who did so at the age of 33 in 1996. Paul, 36, who scored 37 points in the Suns' series clincher in Game 4 of the second round against the Denver Nuggets and 41 on Wednesday, became the oldest player in league history to score 35-plus points in consecutive closeout games within a postseason, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. "It was a shot that helped me loosen up in a certain area of my body, you know what I mean?" Williams quipped. The Clippers, led by Marcus Morris Sr.'s second strong game of the series, went on a 10-0 run in the third to stay within striking distance before Paul hit a 3 as part of a flurry when he scored eight straight on his own to give the Suns back a 15-point cushion. The Suns' advantage swelled to 17 in the third as Phoenix - held to an average of 91 points in Games 4 and 5 of the series - pushed the pace and put 97 points on the board by the start of the fourth. The Suns' lead grew to double digits early in the second quarter, then was cut all the way to one before Phoenix brought it back to nine by halftime, with Jae Crowder scoring 13 of his 19 points in the period. Led by young stars Devin Booker (22 points) and Deandre Ayton (16 points, 17 rebounds), Phoenix pushed ahead by as many as eight points in the first quarter, shooting 14-for-22 from the field (63.6%). "It's been a lot, and I want it not just for myself but for everybody in that locker room." Couldn't be there with my teammates," Paul said. This after playing through a nerve issue in his shoulder during the first round and later contracting COVID-19 in between the second round and conference finals. Paul, fighting back tears during the postgame trophy presentation ceremony at center court, revealed that he received an MRI prior to Game 6 that revealed partially torn ligaments in his right hand. He was tired and he was still making those kinds of plays - getting to the basket, the 3s, orchestrating everything." "I didn't know it was going to be like that, but that's who Chris is. ![]() "There were questions about his production before tonight, and in my heart I felt like it was a matter of time," Suns coach Monty Williams said of Paul after the game. In many ways, Paul was the most accomplished player in NBA history to have never appeared on the Finals stage, as he'd earned the most All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections, started the most playoff games and scored the most career points of anyone without a Finals appearance on his résumé.Īfter missing the first two games of the series while sidelined because of the league's health and safety protocols and then struggling in Games 3 and 4 - combining to shoot just 11-for-41 - he found his game on Wednesday, going 16-for-24 from the field (7-for-8 from 3) while dishing out eight assists. "So you stay the course long enough, you break 'em, and that's what we did." "I just kept thinking, if we do what we're supposed to do, I get the last laugh," Paul said afterward. Paul and the Suns found a way to outlast the never-say-die Clippers, earning Paul the first Finals berth of his career and Phoenix its first appearance in nearly three decades. The future Hall of Famer poured in 19 more of his playoff career-high 41 points as the visiting Suns won 130-103 in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals to advance to the NBA Finals. ![]() Paul's third-quarter spurt gave way to a fourth-quarter coronation on Wednesday at Staples Center. LOS ANGELES - With the building he called home for six seasons of his 16-year career going berserk after a 10-0 run by the LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul went on an 8-0 run of his own to simultaneously silence the crowd and begin to cast off the playoff demons that have haunted his postseason past. Phoenix Suns finish off LA Clippers in 6, advance to first NBA Finals since 1993 ![]() You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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