Clippers dismantle Suns without Kawhi: Where does either team go from here?

On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers took on the Phoenix Suns on the road without Kawhi Leonard and put together one of their best team wins of the season. The game quickly got out of hand for the Suns as the Clippers managed to build a 31 point lead in the first quarter. Despite the early deficit, the Suns were able to manage to cut the lead to 7 with just under seven minutes to play but never got any closer. In the end, the Suns suffered one of their most embarrassing losses of the season which could prove costly as the loss put them back in the play-in tournament. As for the Clippers, they earned their fourth straight win and not only clinched a playoff berth but also the Pacific Division title for the first time since 2014. After the performance both teams put forth on Tuesday they appear to be going in two different directions. So, where do the Suns and Clippers go from here with the playoffs mere days away?

Starting with the Clippers, they are a team with a lot to prove this postseason but performances like they had on Tuesday remind you how much talent and depth that they have. Ultimately, the Clippers will need a healthy Kawhi to have a chance to make it out the West but having Paul George and Russell Westbrook at the best will be key as well. Westbrook started his first game since November and put up a vintage performance recording his 199th career triple double in the win. Paul George scored a game high 23 points in the win and will need to continue to play at a high level to take the pressure off Kawhi for the Clippers to make a deep playoff run. The main concern for the Clippers is when will they get Kawhi back in the lineup as they will need all their guys at their best when they take on the Mavericks in the first round.

Phoenix is a team that has fallen well under expectations this season and if their latest loss in any indication the Suns have a lot to work on with little time to do so. The success of the Suns big three or lack thereof could impact if having a big three is still a viable winning formula in the modern NBA. The Suns clearly put all their chips on the table creating this team and have little assets to improve or adjust the team in the short term. With the Suns likely finishing in the play-in there is a possibility though unlikely that they could miss the playoffs entirely. Still, even if they do make it out of the play-in as the seventh seed they are likely to take on either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Denver Nuggets. With that scenario, its hard to see the Suns making it past the first round as the Suns lack of leadership and overall consistency has put them in a tough position.

Clippers take down the Suns on the road without Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Paul George and Russell Westbrook led the way as George scored 23 points and Westbrook extended his triple double record with his 199th career triple double.

Source: NBA YouTube Channel