Devin Booker scores 38 points, Suns beat Clippers to even series

PHOENIX(AP) — Kevin Durant is the shiny new toy for the Phoenix Suns.Devin Booker is still the team’s heart and soul.

Booker —the three-time All-Star who has spent all eight of his NBA seasonsin Phoenix — scored 38 points, Durant added 25 and the Suns beatthe Los Angeles Clippers 123-109 on Tuesday night in Game 2 to tiethe Western Conference first-round series.

“He’s anall-around player,” Durant said about Booker. “He can do everythingat an elite level on a basketball court.”

The Sunsneeded a gritty effort after a disappointing loss in Game 1. Theirshots weren’t falling for much of the first half and they fell intoa 13-point hole midway through the second quarter.

But led byBooker, they never panicked.

The26-year-old drilled a 3 just before the halftime buzzer to tie itand scored 18 points in the third quarter on 7-of-8 shooting,helping the Suns push to a 92-87 advantage entering the fourth. Thedefense also improved after the Clippers got several easy basketsin the second quarter.

“Peopletalk about adjustments all the time and we make them,” Suns coachMonty Williams said. “But sometimes basketball is just being ableto sit down and guard the ball, keep your man from getting to thebasket and contesting the shot.”

Phoenixnever trailed in the final quarter, slowly pulling away. It wastheir first playoff win with Durant on the floor. The team was 8-0during the regular season with the 13-time All-Star following histrade from the Brooklyn Nets in February.

The seriesmoves to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night.

KawhiLeonard led Los Angeles with 31 points after he scored 38 in Game1. Russell Westbrook added 28 points on 9-of-16 shooting.

“We know itis going to be a tough series,” Westbrook said. “They came back andtook care of business tonight.”

Booker hada stellar shooting night, connecting on 14 of 22 shots, including 4of 7 on 3s. He added nine assists. Deandre Ayton added 14 points —on 7-of-10 shooting— and 13 rebounds. Torrey Craig hit 5 of 8 3sand had 17 points, and Chris Paul had 16 points and eightassists.

“We triedto blitz. We tried to fire. We did a lot of different things,”Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They played great.”

PAUL VS.FOSTER

Paul’sarchnemesis was carrying a whistle Tuesday, not dribbling abasketball.

The pointguard had his personal 13-game playoff losing streak snapped whenreferee Scott Foster is on the floor. The long-running feud haslasted years with Paul criticizing Foster multiple times.

“I didn’tnotice,” Paul said. “I think we’re all about, in this run,minimizing distractions. That is what it is, I’m sure it’ll stillbe a thing.”

SWITCHINGDEFENSES

SeveralSuns players credited the Clippers coaches and players for theirunpredictable defensive sets, which they said was part of thereason for the team’s slow start.

“Theyswitched their defense up like every possession,” Durant said.“They might double, they might triple, they might go zone, theymight go full court press. So they’re trying to throw us off withtheir coverages. I think we did a good job of (eventually) figuringit out. Just playing simple.”

TIP-INS

Clippers:Eight-time All-Star Paul George (sprained knee) hasn’t played sinceMarch 21. ... L.A.’s bench outscored Phoenix’s 30-13. ... Leonardshot 11 of 20 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.

Suns: G CamPayne (low back soreness) hasn’t played yet in the series. Saidcoach Monty Williams “He’s just not ready. He’s done a lot more onthe floor, but there’s certain movements he can’t do yet withoutpain.” ... Hosted a 76th consecutive sellout, combining regularseason and playoff games.