Devin Booker drops 47 points as the Phoenix Suns reach NBA playoffs second round

Devin Booker scored 47 points, including 25 in the third quarter as the Phoenix Suns advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 136-130 series-clinching victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.

The Suns roared back from a double-digit, second-half deficit on Tuesday to setup a second-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets after they overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kevin Durant scored 31 points and Deandre Ayton added 21 points with 11 rebounds as the No. 4-seed Suns recovered from a Game 1 defeat to roll through the remainder of the series by winning the next four contests.

Phoenix is set to face the No. 1-seeded Nuggets next, which starts Saturday at Denver.

Norman Powell scored 27 points and Ivica Zubac added 16 points and 10 rebounds as the short-handed Clippers played without Paul George (knee) the entire series and lost Kawhi Leonard (knee) following Game 2. Los Angeles nearly erased a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant also starred as Phoenix beat LA Clippers to reach Western Conference semifinals

Booker dropped 25 points in the third quarter as the Suns advanced to playoff second round

Mason Plumlee had 20 points and Russell Westbrook added 14 for the Clippers, who were considered a title contender at the start of the season but lacked consistency as George and Leonard struggled with injuries.

The Clippers carved out a 71-61 lead early in the third quarter before the Suns went to work. Phoenix grabbed an 80-79 lead with 6:18 remaining in the third after a Booker dunk. It was Phoenix’s first lead since 6:18 remained in the first half.

Booker then supplied 12 points in an 18-0 Suns run that gave them a 104-86 lead with 1:24 remaining in the third quarter. Phoenix outscored Los Angeles 50-24 in the period by shooting 63 percent (17 of 27) from the field while taking a 111-94 lead.

Westbrook had a flagrant foul late in the third quarter as the game began to slip away and Bones Hyland had another early in the fourth period for Los Angeles. But the Clippers rallied with consecutive 3-pointers from Nicolas Batum, Powell, Terance Mann and Batum again to pull within 128-125 with 3:19 remaining.

The Clippers were within 132-130 with under two minutes remaining but could not get any closer as Durant scored the last four points of the game. Chris Paul had 15 points and seven assists for Phoenix, while Josh Okogie added 11 points.

Russell Westbrook’s season is over after the Clippers fell to a 4-1 first-round series defeat