The Phoenix Suns have eliminated the Los Angeles 4-1 in the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs after Devin Booker left two dominant games while the whole team was benefiting from the presence of Kevin Durant.
The Suns will face the Denver Nuggets in the semifinals after they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves with a gentleman's sweep too. Two years ago, the Nuggets and their ace Nikola Jokic had some really bad memories of being swept by the Suns in the West semifinals.
Both the Clippers and the Timberwolves will enter the offseason with a lot of problems to fix. The Clippers need to decide if they want to go on with the current lineup; the Timberwolves don't have to worry about that because they have another way to continue.
Devin Booker (#1) and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns high five each other in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, April 25, 2023. /CFP
L-R: Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets look on in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, April 25, 2023. /CFP
L-R: Mason Plumlee, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Nicolas Butam, Eric Gordon and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers sti on the bench during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, April 25, 2023. /CFP
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, April 25, 2023. /CFP
Host: Li Xiang
Cover designer: Feng Yuan