The Phoenix Suns pulled off one of the most memorable plays in NBA Playoffs history. It was perhaps the most clutch play in the history of the franchise considering the Suns have never won an NBA championship.

The Suns were down with 0.9 seconds left in Tuesday’s Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers were up 103-102, and with barely any time left, and the Suns needed a quick play to steal the game. Phoenix head coach Monty Williams huddled his team during a timeout and devised a plan to win the game. The plan was for Jae Crowder to inbound an alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton.

Once the timeout ended, it was time to put the plan into motion. As Crowder inbounded the pass, Devin Booker provided a key screen for Ayton, allowing the big man to get open and stuff the ball over Clippers’ center Ivica Zubac for the buzzer-beater victory. The play was beautifully executed to the Phoenix fans’ delight, as the Suns now lead the series 2-0.

“The celebration and reaction were a little shaky,” Ayton said. “Because I wasn’t sure what I did. I wasn’t sure if it counted.”

Suns point guard Chris Paul (currently sidelined due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols) complimented the play on Twitter. “Big time play call, Coach Mont,” Paul said.

The alley-oop game-winner ended a Clippers rally that was led by Paul George, who finished with 26 points. George made a layup with 31 seconds left to give the Clippers a 101-100 lead. On their next offensive possession, he converted a 22-footer to put Los Angeles up 103-102.

While they were up, George had an opportunity to increase the Clippers’ lead when he was sent to the free-throw line. George, who is an 85% free throw shooter, missed both free throws with 8.2 seconds left in the game. This gave the Suns hope, and they executed flawlessly down the stretch.

“Obviously, it was an opportunity that was missed,” George said after the game. “Pat [Beverly] made an unbelievable play that put me in the position to extend the lead. I am always confident at the free-throw line. I have always been very successful in clutch moments at the free-throw line. Tonight, I was just unsuccessful.”

The Suns were led by Cameron Payne, who finished with a career-high 29 points and nine assists. Ayton added 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Booker had 20 points.

“We just had no answer for Cameron Payne,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. “He got downhill all night. His speed and his quickness really hurt us all night.”

Phoenix has won a franchise-record nine straight playoff games. Meanwhile, the Clippers are in a 2-0 hole for the third time in the playoffs. Los Angeles is still confident because they have come back from this deficit before. After losing the first two games in the first round against the Mavericks, the Clippers finished Dallas off in Game 7. In the following round, Los Angeles won four straight games against the top-seeded Jazz after losing the first two games on the road.

Phoenix did what they were supposed to by holding home-court advantage. The series heads to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night. Without Kawhi Leonard, who is still out due to injury, the Clippers have an incredibly tough task ahead of them. However, it would be foolish to count them out after what they accomplished in the first two rounds of the postseason.

Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to secure his first carer triple-double. Booker’s huge performance helped the Suns overcome the absence of Chris Paul and beat the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

“I don’t understand why everyone’s acting surprised at this point,” said Suns forward Jae Crowder. “This is his first time on this stage but he’s capable. He’s more than capable. He’s more than ready. He prepares like no other.”

Chris Paul was absent due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The Clippers were missing star Kawhi Leonard for the third game in a row due to a sprained right knee.

“I have no excuse,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I thought we played hard and competed. A little credit — they were making shots and we didn’t. But I loved our fight. I loved what I saw.”

Booker had the game-sealing dunk, which sealed the Suns’ eighth straight victory. Booker certainly proved a point as he was left out of the All-NBA Teams.

Booker was not worried about rankings as in a postgame interview he said, “I’ll let you guys do the rankings. I’m just going out there to win every game possible. I’ve been saying this since the start of the playoffs — every next game is the biggest game.”

The Clippers had played just 36 hours prior when they finished off the Utah Jazz. Clippers’ Paul George was not concerned. “We got to figure out how to counter, which we will, figure out another game plan. I think this was a good feel-out game to see adjustments. We have been great at adjusting.”

Deandre Ayton produced 20 points and nine rebounds. Cameron Payne added 11 points and nine assists.

For the Clippers, Reggie Jackson had 24 points.

After the game, Paul celebrated with his teammates over FaceTime. “He’s eager to get back,” Crowder said.

Suns’ general manager James Jones was named the NBA’s Executive of the Year. The announcement was made a few minutes before tipoff.

Jones is a man of few words and proved to be so when handed the microphone. After quickly thanking the crowd he said, “All I can say is, Go Suns, let’s win.”

Another Cleveland sports athlete is in hot water for slapping someone’s butt. Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson was thrown out of Friday’s game against the Grizzlies after he slapped Jae Crowder on the butt after an incident which earned him a second technical.

After the incident, Crowder turned to an official and the referee ejected Thompson from the game.

Earlier in the game, both Crowder and Thompson received technical fouls for jawing back and forth at one another.

This comes just days after Odell Beckham Jr. slapped a security guard from behind while celebrating with LSU after their national championship win.

The butt slap has clearly made headlines lately, but it is nothing new. Seen as a universal sign of praise and encouragement, the butt slap has been in sports for as long as sports have been around. There is even scientific research that supports the idea that positive physical touch among teammates results in higher performance and increased morale.

In this instance, it clearly was a sarcastic gesture and Thompson, who has a history of bad blood with Crowder, was the aggressor in hopes of sparking a response.

The response ultimately was his demise and ejection from the game.

Clearly Cleveland is not shy when expressing affection in this way, but maybe they’ll think twice before sharing with others outside of their respective teams.

Thompson does plan to appeal to the National Basketball Players Association.

Gordon Hayward is set to become a player for the Boston Celtics very soon, and new details of the team’s trade with the Utah Jazz for him suggest Jae Crowder may be the player on the other end of the swap.

Ex-Jazz Star Gordon Hayward set to sign with Celtics

One day after Hayward — a 27-year-old small forward who was named an NBA All-Star for the first time this year — revealed he would be joining the Celtics in free agency, reports surfaced Wednesday that the Jazz would receive small forward Crowder in exchange. Hayward was in Boston for a press conference on Wednesday.

The Boston Herald’s Mark Murphy was among the first to report the imminent trade:

The Celtics will have a brand new offense this season thanks to the addition of former Duke small forward Jayson Tatum — whom the team selected third overall in this year’s draft — and second-year swingman Jaylen Brown. Now, Boston will also boast Heyward, the 2010 ninth overall pick who has played his entire NBA career with the Jazz.

Crowder’s five-year, $35 million contract with the Celtics is set to expire in 2020.

According to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Brian Robb, the Jazz might also consider involving players like Rodney Hood, Dante Exum or Derrick Favors in the trade:

The Celtics would need to make substantial room for salary cap in order to take on Hayward’s reported four-year, $128 million deal. Therefore, even if they didn’t complete a sign-and-trade for the forward, they would have to yield at least one player like Crowder to remain under their cap.

Should one of the aforementioned three players end up leaving Utah in exchange for another Celtics star other than Crowder, there could be tension on the Celtics roster between Crowder and Hayward. In January, Crowder criticized his team’s fans on Twitter for cheering for Hayward during a Celtics-Jazz game.

Hayward averaged 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last regular season with the Jazz, whom he led to the franchise’s first postseason series victory since 2010 this year with a 104-91 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 21: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball in the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 21, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah.