<p>PHOENIX — Chris Paul scored 28 points, Devin Booker added 21 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-101 on Wednesday night to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time in 11 years.</p>
<p>The Suns finally figured out a way to beat the Clippers, who won the first two games of the season series. Phoenix didn’t trail the entire game but needed a fourth-quarter push to turn back a Los Angeles rally.</p>
<p>The Suns took an 86-80 lead into the final quarter. The Clippers pulled within 93-92 midway though the fourth but Paul scored three consecutive tough baskets to give Phoenix some space.</p>
<p>The 35-year-old Paul continued to play excellent basketball in his 16th NBA season, shooting 10 of 15 from the field, dishing 10 assists and generally looking like a player a decade younger. He was serenaded with "MVP! MVP!" chants from the crowd by the end of the fourth.</p>
<p>The Suns improved to 44-18 while the Clippers fell to 43-21. The teams are currently ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, in the Western Conference standings.</p>
<p>Paul George led the Clippers with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcus Morris Sr. added 16 points. </p>
<p>The Suns jumped out to a 39-31 lead after one quarter, making 7 of 9 shots from 3-point range. Phoenix pushed the lead to 14 points by midway through the second before settling for a 63-53 halftime advantage.</p>
<p>Frank Kaminsky led the Suns with 13 points before the break while Booker had 12. George scored 16 for the Clippers. The Phoenix bench outscored LA’s reserves 28-8 in the first half.</p>
<p>CLOSE TO NORMAL</p>
<p>The Suns are able to have about 5,500 fans these days at Phoenix Suns Arena, slowly increasing capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.</p>
<p>It was a festive atmosphere for Wednesday’s game that felt almost pre-pandemic, with shirtless fans with S-U-N-S dancing in the stands and huge cheers when Paul hit his crucial buckets in the fourth.</p>
<p>The Suns haven’t been in the playoffs since 2010, when Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire made the team a huge draw in the desert.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Clippers: Guard Patrick Beverley (hand fracture) and forwards Kawhi Leonard (sore right foot) and Serge Ibaka (lower back) didn’t play.</p>
<p>Suns: Forwards Jae Crowder (right ankle sprain), Dario Saric (left ankle) and Abdel Nader (right knee) didn’t play.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Clippers: Host the Nuggets on Saturday.</p>
<p>Suns: Host the Jazz on Friday.</p>
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