Clippers vs. Suns: Paul George, Los Angeles Still Long Shots To Complete Series Comeback

The Los Angeles Clippers stayed alive in the Western Conference Finals with a 116-102 Game 5 win over the Phoenix Suns. After the victory, L.A. still faces an uphill battle in trying to overcome a 3-2 series deficit.

The odds remain overwhelmingly in Phoenix's favor. The Suns are -560 favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook to win one of the next two games and reach the 2021 NBA Finals. Los Angeles is a +420 underdog to win the series.

Paul George led the way in the Clippers’ Game 5 upset with 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. George shot an incredible 15-of-20 from the field, raising his scoring average in the series to 30.2 points per game. George shot 35.8% from the field in Games 1-4.

“If they were going to finish this series off, they were going to have to work for it,” George said after Game 5. “That was just the mentality we came into this with. We weren’t going to back down. We weren’t going to just throw in the towel. The fact of the matter is, they got to beat us.”

Reggie Jackson is the Clippers’ second-leading scorer in the series with 21.8 points per game. No other Clipper is averging double digits.

Los Angeles will need more great performances from George in Game 6 and a potential Game 7 to remain in the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard has missed the entire series with a knee injury, and there appears to be little confidence that he will return.

The Suns got one of their stars back after a two-game absence. Chris Paul struggled upon returning from the NBA’s health and safety protocols, scoring 33 points on 41 field-goal attempts in Game 3 and Game 4. Paul might have turned a corner in Game 5, scoring 22 points on an improved 8-of-19 shooting.

The Clippers overcame 2-0 series deficits in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Los Angeles is 3-0 in elimination games this postseason.

The series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Wednesday night.