Deandre Ayton is the hero of the Suns’ second victory over the Clippers.
With less than one second left in the game, the Suns were one point behind and only had 0.9 seconds to shoot. Jae Crowder caught the ball from the bottom line of the Suns and found Ayton cut into the basket.
Ayton threw it down. The game took only 0.2 seconds and won 104-103 for the Suns.
Let’s take a look at the amazing completion.
Ayton and Crowder deserve most of the credit, but Devin Booker also had an impact on the completion. He is 7 inches taller than Booker and weighs 35 pounds. The physical screen of Ivica Zubac gives Ayton enough room to open the cut and dunk.
Even though Patrick Beverley had a bleeding nose that needed stitches after an inadvertent hit earlier in the game, Booker put his body on the line.
The end of the Suns excited Phoenix fans and the team’s star point guard Chris Paul, who missed the NBA’s health and safety protocol for the second consecutive game. He took time to celebrate the victory on Twitter and praised coach Monty Williams for his “important game.”
damn it! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
— Chris Paul (@CP3) June 23, 2022
Great time to call coach Monte! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
— Chris Paul (@CP3) June 23, 2022
Indeed, it was a good game and Williams made sure that Ayton was ready to dunk immediately after receiving the ball.
“DA-if he shoots, you have to try to dunk,” Williams said. “Ok?”
Ayton is ready and helpful. Thanks to his creation, NBA Twitter broke out and celebrated the exciting end of another competitive playoff game.
Deandre Ayton is the third Suns player in the last 25 playoff games to make a go-ahead goal in the last second of the playoffs.
Stephen Marbury had one in 2003 (the buzzer), and Boris Dior had one in 2006 (0.5 seconds left). pic.twitter.com/SNTKyjT4lw
— ESPN Statistics and Information (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2022
“To be honest, I can see myself in Phoenix. I can see a bit of O’Neal and Kobe 2.0.” - DeAndre Ayton before the 2018 draft
The Suns are only two wins away from the finals pic.twitter.com/lX3i5cWG06
-Don’t stop the ball (@balldontstop) June 23, 2022
Deandre Ayton is a good example of how important it is to coach and have the right supporting role in player development. This is the difference between him being a good player and a great player.
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) June 23, 2022
That was the greatest entry race I have ever seen. Jae Crowder vs. Deandre Ayton. This is a championship team.
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) June 23, 2022
