LOS ANGELES: Chris Paul erupted for 41 points to lead the Phoenix Suns into the NBA Finals on Wednesday with a series-clinching 130-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns – who squandered the opportunity to wrap up the Western Conference Finals at home on Monday – rebounded at Staples Centre with an emphatic win, taking the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Phoenix will face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks in the best-of-seven championship round.
It is only the third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history for the Suns, and the team’s first since 1993.
They failed to even reach the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons before the 2020-2021 campaign.