On April 23, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs ended a battle for focus, and this time the Suns' "Big Three" really all "returned to their positions"! Durant scored 31 points, Booker also had 30 points, Paul came out of the slump with 19 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and the Suns finally defeated Leonard's Clippers 112-100 to grab the 3-1 playoff first-round point, and the two G5 will return to Phoenix on the 26th.
"It's certainly a good thing when all three of us play positively, we all do our job well, we're still growing and learning from each other," said Durant, who only jumped from the Nets to the Suns in February. ”
After all, the Clippers lost Leonard with a sprained knee in two consecutive playoff games, and Paul George has been absent from the same injury since March 21, but the Clippers G3 only lost 5 points to the Suns, and today played to the end, and even relied on the firepower of Westbrook to score 9 points in a row and 14 points in the final quarter, twice closing the gap to 2 points, but unfortunately the Suns are still superior.
"We're not going to make any excuses for losing," said Westbrook, who scored a game-high 37 points, "and we just need to make sure we keep fighting for each other, keep competing and have no regrets on the court." Unfortunately, he didn't get much firepower from his teammates, with Powell scoring a team-high 14 points, Mann 13 and Eric Gordon 10.
The Phoenix Suns, who won the game, had good news after the game. According to the US media NBA analysis network, the Phoenix Suns plan to further improve the team's strength in the upcoming offseason, intending to exchange the exchange rights of DeAndrew Ayton, Landry Shamet, 2026 first-round pick, and 2028 first-round pick to exchange Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine. It is reported that the Phoenix Suns have sent an official offer to the Chicago Bulls, but have not received a response from the Chicago Bulls.
Why did the Phoenix Suns make this deal?
That's because Zach LaVine is a very good scorer. This season, he averaged 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, arguably the team's most important offensive firepower, and now has a considerable reputation in the league. Therefore, the arrival of Zach LaVine will bring more scoring opportunities for the Suns, enhancing the team's overall offensive ability, making them more likely to compete for the championship.
Why would the Chicago Bulls agree to make this deal?
This is because DeAndrew Ayton and Landry Shamet are also very valuable players who have shown their quality this season. DeAndrew Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while Landry Shamet averaged 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. The exchange of the two players will add depth to the interior for the Bulls and improve the team's defensive capabilities. In addition, the first-round picks in 2026 and 2028 will also provide better assets for the future development of the team.
In short, the Phoenix Suns' move to trade Zach LaVine in the upcoming offseason will greatly improve the team's strength and make them more likely to compete for the NBA championship. While the deal may come at a price, it will bring more opportunities and future success for the Suns in the long run. The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, got young players and first-round picks to help rebuild the team.