Phoenix Suns beat LA Clippers in last second of NBA playoff game

Game two of the NBA playoffs series between the Phoenix and the LA Clippers had an epic finish, with the game decided in the very last second.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker was battered and bruised in their thrilling game two win against the LA Clippers. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

NBA games are known to often go down to the wire but the epic finish between the Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals had even the most seasoned basketball fans chewing their fingernails.

It was a seesawing contest throughout the entire game, with both teams swapping the lead frequently in Phoenix.

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After a controversial ruling against Phoenix star Devin Booker, where he was deemed to touch the ball last despite it being knocked out by his opponent with less than 10 seconds on the clock, the Clippers got the chance to seal the deal.

The Clippers’ Paul George had two free-throw attempts to but shockingly missed them both, giving the Suns one last chance to win the game.

Down one point with 0.8 seconds left on the clock, Phoenix coach Monty Williams drew up a hail Mary play at time-out and his players executed it to perfection to steal an epic playoffs win.

Phoenix’s Jae Crowder threw a centimetre perfect pass to teammate DeAndre Ayton just above the rim, and he tipped the ball into the basket to give the Suns a thrilling victory.

EVERY ANGLE of Jae Crowder's pinpoint pass to Deandre Ayton to win Game 2 for the @Suns! #NBAPlayoffs#ThatsGame#NBAWCF presented by AT&T continues with Game 3 on Thursday at 9pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/JMEXIj0erK

— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2021

Ayton was superb for the Suns, with 24 points (12 from 15 shots made) and 14 rebounds.

“I just trust my teammates and coaches,” he told ESPN.

“I just listened to my coach and did what they told me to do.

“Jae threw a great pass, I just finished, I’m just glad I finished. We just wanted to finish the game off strong.”

Phoenix’s DeAndre Ayton tips in the game-winner to give the Suns an epic playoff win against the LA Clippers. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The 104-103 result gives the Suns a crucial 2-0 series lead as they continue on their best playoffs run since 2010.

Basketball fans couldn’t believe their eyes at the thrilling last-second finish.

That @Suns play was just🔥💪👍

— ogie alcasid (@ogiealcasid) June 23, 2021

Wow the #ValleyOop gotta love it! That play will forever go down in history!!! @Suns over @LAClippers

— Marvin L James II (@sportsguymarv) June 23, 2021

Monty Williams’ Out Of Bounds play was sublime.

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) June 23, 2021

But viewers were up in arms about the earlier out-of-bounds call that gave the Clippers the chance to win.

After the flop, the out of bounds call, and the fake high-five, the right team won.

— Tas Melas (@TasMelas) June 23, 2021

that deflection out of bounds call still sucked.

— Rachel A DeMita (@RADeMita) June 23, 2021

Incredibly, the last 90 seconds of the game took 33 real-time minutes to complete, due to five time-outs and several referee reviews that dragged out the end of the game, to the dismay of the some fans.

The last two minutes of this game have lasted an hour lmao

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 23, 2021

Adam Silver gotta do something about these reviews. Hire however many people it takes to make the process go quicker. Casual NBA fans just tune out. To make them hardcore fans, there can't be these long reviews. And stop rewarding players who flop and whine. Ruins the product.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 23, 2021

Phoenix have now won nine consecutive playoff games following their series victories over the LA Lakers and the Denver Nuggets.

The Suns were without star Chris Paul, who had been ruled out of at least the opening two games of the series due to Covid-19 regulations.

But back-up point guard Cameron Payne stood up big-time in his absence, scoring 29 points and contributing nine assists.

The close finish wasn’t the only drama that occurred during the game.

Phoenix’s Booker sustained a nasty cut to nose in an accidental head collision with the Clippers’ Patrick Beverley and started bleeding immediately.

Booker was patched up and returned to the court and had a solid game with 20 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Originally published as Phoenix Suns beat LA Clippers in last second of NBA playoff game