The stars were awkward in this early meeting. The proof: after twelve minutes of play, Kawhi Leonard had missed his five attempts, Chris Paul (only 5 units) his three and Devin Booker had only one success in five attempted shots. The two teams were very close in this first period. Paul George and Terance Mann, with fifteen points, launched the Clippers in the first quarter (23-28) against a good Deandre Ayton (18 points).
Same logic in the second quarter with the Suns finally finding the net at 3-pts after several failures thanks to Josh Okogie, who scored 12 points (thus half of his 24 in the end) in this quarter. However, Phoenix is still behind at the break (52-54). It is only then that the troops of Tyronn Lue take control of this part. In the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard (16 points) wakes up with eleven points, Terance Mann imitates him, and Los Angeles takes the lead (84-91).
The Suns are unable to come back against Nicolas Batum (3 points) and his band. Devin Booker (19 points) is like Leonard and increases the pressure over the minutes, but the defense fails to stop the former Toronto or the duo George – Mann. The first finishes with 26 points, the second too. Without forgetting a precious Mason Plumlee in the last minutes, with in particular his four rebounds in the last act. Logical victory of the Clippers 107-116 for this last game with the cut of the All-Star Game.
