Suns’ Devin Booker bounces back with stellar 1st half in Game 4 of WCF
Jun 26, 2021, 7:13 PM | Updated: 9:48 pm
The Phoenix Suns took a 50-36 lead at halftime of Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers behind stellar play from Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.
The Suns won the contest 84-80 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead and are now one win away from their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1993.
Booker responded after his worst night of shooting in the playoffs in Game 3 with highly improved accuracy in Game 4.
The Suns star guard made four of his first eight shots in the first quarter and stayed hot in the second, ending the half 5-for-10 with 11 points.
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Booker, playing in his second game with a protective mask over a nose injury suffered in Game 2, seemed much more comfortable in the face covering.
Booker and point guard Chris Paul combined to miss 30 shots in the Game 3 loss with Paul returning from a two-game absence due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Both needed to play better in Game 4 and did.
While Booker carried the scoring load for the duo, Paul finished the first quarter with four assist before being replaced by Cam Payne.
Payne quickly made his presence felt in the game by scoring his first basket and drawing a double technical foul during a brush-up with Clippers wing Terrence Mann.
Booker finished the night as the game’s leading scorer with 25 points before fouling out with 1:05 left in the game.
Ayton also had a big first half for Phoenix with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Suns center finished with a total of 19 points and 22 rebounds in the win.
Phoenix will look to punch a ticket to the NBA Finals with a win in Game 5 at home on Monday night.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
