Booker has 45 points, Suns top Leonard-less Clippers 129-124

LOS ANGELES(AP) — With Kevin Durant drawing defenders, Devin Bookerfoundhis way to the basket again and again.

Booker scored45 points, Durant added 28 and the Phoenix Suns beat the KawhiLeonard-less Los Angeles Clippers 129-124 on Thursday night to takea 2-1 lead in the Western Conference playoff series.

“He set thetone, got to the rim, making plays for others, just controlling thewhole game,” Durant said of Booker. “We’re going to need him to dothat going forward.”

Leonard satout because of a sprained right knee, the same injury that hassidelined fellow star Paul George since March 21. Leonard was hurtin Game 1, and played through it in Game 2, but afterward hiscondition didn’t improve.

“Those arethose trick games, where you think somebody is missing one of theirtop players and you let off the gas a little bit,” Booker said.“They played their (rear ends) off tonight. The whole team wasprepared for that so we didn’t take a step back.”

NormanPowellled the Clippers, scoring a career playoff-high 42points on 15-of-23 shooting.RussellWestbrookadded 30 points and 11 assists.

Game 4 isSaturday in Los Angeles.

Booker shot18 for 29 and had seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks whileplaying a game-high 44 minutes. He scored 38 points in Game 2.

“If it was upto me, I wouldn’t have been out those 12 minutes. My body feelsgood,” Booker said. “I dedicate my whole entire life to this sportand this game. When you have it going like that on the big stage,there’s nothing else you can ask for.”

With Leonardwatching from the bench, the Clippers kept it close through thefirst half, when neither team led by more than six.

The Clippersgot within three on two free throws by Westbrook with 1:44remaining. After a 6-0 run by the Suns, Powell hit a 3-pointer, gotfouled and made the free throw to pull the Clippers to 125-120.

Despite theheroics of former UCLA stars Powell and Westbrook, the Clipperssorely missed Leonard’s offense. He had 38 points in a Game 1 winat Phoenix and 31 in a loss in Game 2.

The Sunspulled away in the third behind Booker. He scored eight points in a17-8 run to open the period and give Phoenix its first double-digitlead of the game, 71-59.

Bookercredited Durant on the court for his ability to get to thebasket.

“A lot of thebuckets I scored, I went to him right after and said, ‘You openedthat up for me,’” he said. “I expect the Clippers to makeadjustments and it’ll be his turn to play.”

Suns coachMonty Williams said, “I feel bad for Kev sometimes because he’s anexpensive decoy out there. He’s standing at the 28-foot hash andthe defender is right in his face and that gives Book a number ofopportunities to attack the basket.”

Westbrookscored seven in a row to cut the Clippers’ deficit to 71-66. TheSuns answered with eight straight, capped by Durant’s viciousone-handed slam, to lead 79-66. They were ahead by seven going intothe fourth.

WithoutLeonard, the Clippers counted on Westbrook and he made his presenceknown from the opening tip, keying a 6-0 run to start the game.

The Sunsanswered with 12 straight points before the Clippers answered witha 14-2 spurt that gave them a 20-14 lead.

The Clippersled by one when Durant, Chris Paul and Booker hit consecutive3-pointers to go up by eight in the second, Phoenix’s largest leadof the half.

Powell ranoff eight straight points to send the Clippers into halftimetrailing 54-51.

TIP-INS

Suns: Bookerhad his fifth career 40-plus-point postseason game. ... Paulfinished with 11 points and seven assists.

Clippers:Their reserves outscored the Suns’ bench, 37-18, with Bones Hylandscoring 20 points. ... Fell to 3-10 this season without Leonard andGeorge in the lineup. ... Nicolas Batum was the only starter whodidn’t score.

TORREYCRAIG

Craig scored15 points for the Suns, while hitting four 3-pointers. He’s 10 of16 from long-range in the series.

“That’s threegames in a row that he’s doing it,” Booker said. “I’m encouraginghim to do it.”