By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
This Clippers team has proven time and time again that they perform best with their backs against the wall.
Despite facing elimination with a banged-up roster, the Clippers still found a way to notch the win, 116-102, in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and extend the series to a crucial Game 6.
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue is no stranger to elimination games after going the distance in both their previous rounds. “We were here before. Against Dallas, against the Jazz. We just have to keep fighting one game at a time.”
Facing a raucous Phoenix Suns Arena crowd, the Clippers stayed focus and stuck to their game plan of attacking the paint relentlessly.
Forward Marcus Morris Sr. shot the lights out after struggling to keep his offense rolling in the first four games of the series and finished with 22 big points.
The Clippers kept their gameplan plain and simple and grabbed the early commanding lead after deciding to post up Morris whenever Devin Booker was switched on him.
It was a game of runs with the Clippers keeping their lead at nine and 12 but was quickly cut to just two at the start of the second half.
Booker and Chris Paul started cooking from the field and provided the much-needed offense with Deandre Ayton struggling to buy a basket underneath.
With their season on the line and the Suns finally picking up momentum, it was Paul George who shouldered the load and took over after scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone and recorded 41 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.
Demarcus Cousins also had a huge impact for the Clippers as he scored 15 points, two rebounds, and three assists in the absence of starting center Ivica Zubac.
The Suns will travel back to Staples Center as the surging Clippers will try to stave off elimination and force a Game 7.
