Phoenix Suns looking to close out Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5

[ad_1]

Suns All-Star Devin Booker is trying to win every game from preseason to regular season to postseason, but clearly there’s a greater sense of urgency in the playoffs.

“Honestly, just win at all costs,” Booker said. “Although the regular season stuff, the statistics, the stats the efficiency, all of that is off the table. We all have one main goal. Each game is its own new project and that’s how we view it. Each game has its own personality, and you have to have a quick memory, win or loss. On to the next one until the job is finished.”

Fourth-seeded Phoenix can close out its Western Conference first round series against the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in Tuesday’s Game 5 at Footprint Center, which tips off at 7 p.m.

Up 3-1, the Suns have won the last three games of the series and will look to have Cameron Payne back for Game 5 as he’s missed Phoenix’s last five games counting the final game of the regular season with low back soreness.

Payne is listed as probable. He hurt his back on a hard fall April 7 against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

If the Suns can make it four straight playoff wins Tuesday, they’ll close out a series at home for the first time in this three-year playoff run.

They eliminated the Lakers, Nuggets and Clippers on the road in 2021 on their way to the finals and the Pelicans last season in the opening round.

“We’ve been playing it game by game,” Suns big Deandre Ayton said. “Those dudes (the Clippers) play really hard. Closeout games are always the hardest games. We expect it’s going to be a big battle. We’re just gearing up and getting ready to make sure we close it out for good.”

The Suns could earn themselves some major rest with a victory Tuesday before playing in the conference semifinals.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after scoring a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half in game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 22, 2023.

The NBA announced Monday schedule scenarios for the upcoming conference semifinals series as Denver will look to close out its first round series Tuesday at home against…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/win-costs-phoenix-suns-looking-002833493.html?src=rss

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2023-04-25 00:28:33

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.