Clippers vs. Suns live updates: Game 4 of Western Conference finals

Paul George and the Clippers are looking to even the Western Conference finals with a Game 4 victory over the Phoenix Suns tonight at Staples Center.

The fourth-seeded Clippers showed some fight with a 106-92 home win on Thursday, despite the return of veteran guard Chris Paul to the second-seeded Suns’ lineup. Paul missed the first two games of the series because of the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The Clippers remain without All-NBA first-team forward Kawhi Leonard, who has been sidelined since suffering a right knee injury late in Game 4 of their second-round series against top-seeded Utah.

Paul George has been leading the way in Leonard’s absence, while role players such as Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac and Patrick Beverley have been making significant contributions at both ends of the court.

The Clippers have been masters at solving the puzzle of an opponent in each round so far, going 0-6 in Games 1 and 2 of their three series but 9-1 in Games 3-7. They snapped the Suns’ nine-game winning streak on Thursday night, when Paul and fellow Suns All-Star Devin Booker combined to shoot 10 for 40 from the field.

Will the Clippers continue to build momentum or will the Suns push them to the brink of elimination?

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS SCHEDULE:

(best-of-seven, all times PT)

Game 1: Suns 120, Clippers 114

Game 2: Suns 104, Clippers 103

Game 3: Clippers 106, Suns 92

Game 4: Saturday (6/26) at L.A., 6 p.m. (ESPN)

*Game 5: Monday (6/28) at Phoenix, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

*Game 6: Wednesday (6/30) at L.A., 6 p.m. (ESPN)

*Game 7: Friday (7/2) at Phoenix, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

*if necessary

Pregame links and reading:

Ivica Zubac, Patrick Beverley help Clippers clamp down on Suns | Whicker: How Cameron Payne went from bust to boom for Suns | Alexander: No, Laker fans will not root for the Clippers | Whicker: It’s Zubac’s turn to set tone for Clippers, masters of Game 3 | Resilient Clippers top Suns in Game 3, cut series deficit in half | Clippers vs. Suns: Western Conference finals schedule, scouting report, prediction |

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