The Phoenix Suns tied the Western Conference first-round series with a 123-109 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night in Game 2. Devin Booker led all scorers with 38 points, while Kevin Durant added 25 points for the Suns.

After suffering a crushing defeat in the series’ first game, the Suns responded with a valiant performance. Their shots weren’t dropping for much of the first half, and as a result, they found themselves in a deficit that was 12 points deep halfway through the second quarter.

Yet, under Booker’s direction, they showed no signs of fear.

The three-time All-Star hit a three-pointer at the buzzer of the second quarter to level the game, and then he went on to score 18 points in the third quarter while shooting 7-of-8 from the field, which contributed to the Suns taking a 92-87 lead heading into the final period of play.

Phoenix always caught up in the fourth and final quarter and gradually increased their lead.

Game 3 of the series is scheduled in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.

Booker had a fantastic shooting night, making 14 of 22 shots, including four of seven three-point attempts. In all, he took 22 shots. Also, he provided nine assists. Deandre Ayton contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds, with a shooting percentage of 7 for ten over ten attempts. Torrey Craig scored 17 points and nailed five of his eight 3-point attempts, while Chris Paul had 16 points and eight assists.

After scoring 38 points in the first game, Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 to lead Los Angeles. Russell Westbrook contributed an additional 28 points, making 9 of 16 shots.

PAUL VS. FOSTER

That Tuesday, Paul’s sworn adversary wasn’t dribbling a basketball but was holding a whistle.

When referee Scott Foster was on the court, the point guard’s 13-game losing run in the playoffs ended. Paul has been critical of Foster on several occasions during their years-long conflict.

TIP-INS

The Clippers have won eight-time Since March 21, Paul George, an All-Star, has been out due to an injured knee. The reserves for Los Angeles outscored the ones for Phoenix by a score of 30 to 13.

Suns: G Due to discomfort in his lower back, Cam Payne has not yet participated in the series. According to the trainer Monty Williams, “He’s simply not ready.” While he has spent much more time on the floor, there are still certain motions that he cannot do without experiencing discomfort. Combining the regular season with the playoffs, we had a 76th straight event that was sold out.