Leonard, Westbrook have huge games as Clippers beat Durant and the Suns 115-110

PHOENIX - Russell Westbrook might have shot the ball badly but he didn't need to shoot like Steph Curry as long as he impacted the game in other ways, That's exactly what happened last night, Kawhi Leonard dropped 38 and Westbrook might have shot 3-19 but you wouldn't have noticed with the way Russ played towards the end and really the entire duration of the game.

Both Kawhi and Russell Westbrook had impactful performances as The Clippers beat the Suns 115-110 and took home court advantage in the series.

Kawhi Leonard, in his first playoff game in almost 2 years dropped 38 points and two huge late 3 pointers. Russell Westbrook was a threat everywhere on the court during the game, everywhere except the scoring side of the game. The former League MVP shot 3-19 from the field but by the end of the night Westbrook had nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals.

Westbrook commented on his bad shooting night in the post game presser.

“My whole career, I pride myself every season on doing everything,” Westbrook said. “Whatever is needed of me to win the game, I'll do it.” Westbrook added

Westbrook's comments summed up exactly what he did in the final 30 seconds of the game, Westbrook made two crucial free throws with 17.7 seconds left in the game, then on the following Phoenix possession Westbrook would clamp up Devin Booker by blocking him and then throwing the ball out of bounds off of Booker to give The Clippers the ball with about 10 seconds left in the game, Westbrooks effect on the game does not represent itself in the stat sheet.

Eric Gordon and Norman Powell also contributed hugely to The Clippers win by combining for 33 points. Including 2 late threes by Gordon that were huge for The Clippers.

For the Suns, Kevin Durant had 27 point, but didn't have any points in the final clutch minutes of the game. Phoenix, who was undefeated with Durant in the lineup since acquiring him from Brooklyn in February saw their undefeated record broken. Phoenix had been 8-0 with Durant in the lineup. Injuries had limited Durant's availability for Phoenix.

Devin Booker also was effective for Phoenix, dropping 26 points, and a very good defensive display from Booker as well.

While trailing 109-103 with 1:33 remaining in the game ,The Suns responded with a 5-0 run. The Clippers crashed the offensive boards on the ensuing possession before Westbrook made his critical free throws. Westbrook would grab a huge rebound before being fouled and sinking the 2 clutch free throws.

Kawhi would comment on Westbrooks impact on the game after, “Making winning plays, getting deflections on balls, offensive rebounding, getting us into our sets — that is playoff basketball,” Leonard said. “You might not have the best night shooting, but you've got to impact the game some type of way and he did that tonight.” Leonard added.

The Clippers had dominated and led for most of the game up until the middle of the 3rd quarter, on the back of a 15-0 run out of halftime, which produced a 77-68 Phoenix lead.

The Clippers would level the game at 81 going into the 4th, all by Leonard's 12 point 3rd quarter.

Ty Lue would “They're going to make a run at home, we understood that,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We built a lead, they made a run, and now we've got to keep our composure and be ready to fight back. I thought everyone who played tonight was great.”

Kawhi Leonard, a former two-time Finals MVP in the league played his first playoff game in 22 months ago, affected the game on offense the most from the mid-range as he usually does but late in the game Leonard moved behind the 3 point line and hit 2 crucial threes in the dying embers of the game, Leonard hit a 3 with 2:36 left and another at the 2-minute mark, finishing 13 of 24 shooting from the field.

The Clippers will be missing their 3rd all star player, Paul George for the duration of the series ESPNs WOJ announced before the game. George sprained his knee last month.

Just as the Clippers have been one of the deepest teams in the league, it was all on diusplay in Game 1. Eric Gordon added in 12 points in the first quarter as Los Angeles jumped out to a quick 30-188 lead early The Suns shot just 31.8% from the field in the first quarter and Durant was held scoreless.

Durant, addressing Phoenix's slow start “We definitely would like to have better starts but sometimes that happens,” Durant said. “It is all about how you bounce back from it.”

Durant started out 0-5 before finally hitting his first field goal in the second quarter. That shot seemed to let Durant break out in the game Durant who proceeded to pour in 17 points, cutting the Clippers' lead to 59-54.

The Suns would see their six game winning streak in Playoff Game 1s snapped on Sunday Night

Booker, who poured in 26 in the loss, commented on the game, “We understand it is not going to be easy,” Booker said. “It gets harder from here. Thinking back to my first (playoffs), every loss is the worst thing ever and every win you are going to win the rest of them. That’s just how the playoffs go.”

The Clippers stole home court from Phoenix in an impressive showing in Game 1. The Clippers take on the Suns in Game 2 on April 18th live on TNT at 10:00 PM,