Behind Russell Westbrook's triple-double, the Clippers withstood a furious rally from the Phoenix Suns to win 105-92 on Tuesday, avoiding the NBA's postseason play-in tournament and clinching a playoff berth. At least a top-five finish was guaranteed. Western Conference Standings.
None of that is surprising. The Clippers have finished in the top five in the regular season standings nine times over the past 12 seasons, and it would have taken a major collapse in the final week of the season to keep them from doing it again.
What they haven't done is make a long run in the playoffs and reach the conference finals just once in franchise history. So Tuesday's victory is just the first step in a familiar journey that will become more difficult as time passes.
Who and where the Clippers will play in the postseason could be decided as early as Wednesday in a rematch with the Suns in Los Angeles. (Spoiler alert: The Clippers' first-round opponent will probably be Dallas in two of the past four seasons. The Clippers have won both series.) Coach Tyronn Lue says, “It's all about getting court advantage.” He said the team's focus remains the same.
“We have to get a place. We can't relax,” he said.
“Just keep getting better and better and keep playing good basketball heading into the playoffs. That's our mindset.”
read more: Paul George leads Clippers to upset victory over Cavaliers
The Clippers certainly didn't get distracted to start Tuesday, racing to a 17-point lead in the first 4 1/2 minutes, only to turn around after a rash of turnovers in the second half allowed Phoenix to get within seven points. There were less than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Westbrook, who started the game due to injuries to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, contributed significantly to that massive lead, scoring 16 points, setting season highs with 15 assists, and grabbing 15 rebounds.
This was his 199th career triple-double, the most in NBA history.
Phoenix, playing at home for the last time in the regular season, gave their fans little cheer early on, missing nine of their first 10 shots and shooting just 10.5 percent from the field, including four 3-pointers in the first period. I missed all my point shots. The game ended with the Clippers leading 37-10.
When Suns guard Devin Booker made four free throws late in the period, the crowd responded with a mock cheer. Still, the 10 points were the fewest the Clippers have given up in the first quarter in nearly 20 years.
Then, less than four minutes into the second period, Bones Hyland hit a 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 51-14 lead, making their 37-point advantage the team's largest on the road this season. became.
But the Clippers, who turned the ball over 18 times, gave back most of that lead and held on for their fourth straight win and seventh in eight games. And they did it without Leonard, who missed five straight games with inflammation in his right knee, and Harden, who is suffering from inflammation in his right foot. Leonard is the team's leading scorer and Harden entered Tuesday fourth in the league with 8.6 assists per game.
With three games left in the regulation season and the postseason looming, Lue said his two stars don't stand a chance.
“We have to be smart for the playoffs,” he said. “So we’re just taking it one day at a time.”
read more: James Harden's triple-double leads Clippers to victory over Jazz
That leaves Lue to start in the backcourt with Norman Powell and Westbrook, who had started just 12 games combined before Tuesday.
Paul George led the Clippers with a game-high 23 points, making him one of only seven active players to score over 18,000 points in his career and record at least 18,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists. Ta. Ivica Zubac (17 points), Terence Mann (17 points), Amir Coffey (13 points) and Powell (10 points) joined George and Westbrook in double-digit scoring.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 21 points, two more than Bradley Beal.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
