BBNBA: Clippers take Game 3 against Booker and Suns

Suns in four? Not quite. Last night, the Los Angeles Clippers took Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, 106-92, extending the series at least one more game – which is good news for those of us who just love playoff basketball, right?

After dropping 40 points in the series opener, former Wildcat Devin Booker struggled last night. Booker broke his nose in three places during Game 2, forcing him to wear a protective mask for last night’s match. Though DBook joked he didn’t need his peripheral vision before the game, he might have spoken too soon. The young star scored only 15 points in last night’s loss, going 5-21 from the field and 1-7 from the three-point line. That is the fewest points he has scored since April 22.

Devin Booker's nose was broken in three places and doctors reset it yesterday, he told @Rachel__Nichols.

Booker is wearing a mask for Game 3 and when asked about it limiting his peripheral vision, he told Rachel: “all I need to see is the basket.”

(📸 @NBA) pic.twitter.com/l0rKkCArKn

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 25, 2021

Booker said the mask did not affect his scoring, but it certainly couldn’t have helped. “The nose feels fine. We just lost the game,” he said.

Veteran point guard Chris Paul returned for Phoenix after missing the first two games of the series because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Paul ended with a 15-point, 12-assist double-double, but was only 5-19 from the field.

With both Booker and Paul struggling offensively, the Suns needed someone else to step up and pick up some slack. Unfortunately, none of their Suns’ teammates could quite manage that task.

Paul George led the Clippers with 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Reggie Jackson added 23 points of his own, giving L.A. the push they needed to win the game.

Three former Wildcats are current Clippers – Rajon Rondo, Patrick Patterson and DeMarcus Cousins. Rondo is the only one who played last night, ending with no points in his meager eight minutes on the court. Long-time NBA fans know that Rondo has major beef with Chris Paul, beginning over 10 years ago when Rondo was snubbed by Team USA. Rondo seemed to think Paul took his spot, and the two exchanged insults throughout the years. Things really escalated in 2018, though.

Chris Paul throws punches at Rondo for allegedly spitting on him ,….brawl breaks out pic.twitter.com/1k1a7jRunY

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) October 21, 2018

Only time will tell if the two still share an aggressive mutual dislike, but something tells me they haven’t quite made amends.

After last night’s game, the Suns lead the series 2-1. Game 4 will be in L.A. Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Here are the stats from last night’s game:

[table id=809 /]