WASHINGTON, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles Clippers stunned Phoenix Suns 122-97 Wednesday to take home court advantage in their National Basketball Association Western Conference semi-final series in Arizona.
Elton Brand and Chris Kaman dominated the paint as the Clippers leveled the best-of-seven series at one game each.
Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley scored 23 points apiece for the sixth-seeded Clippers, who gunned Suns from the very first minutes.
Sparked by Cassell, the Clippers raced to a 20-6 lead in the first six minutes and never looked back. They led by double digits for all but 26 seconds thereafter, and their largest lead was the final score.
Los Angeles maintained its big lead by going inside to its big men.
Brand and Kaman led an inside assault as the Clippers scored on virtually every possession before the break. They held a 36-14 advantage in rebounds, including 15 offensive boards, and a staggering 24-2 edge in second-chance points.
Scoring and rebounding at will, Brand and Kaman combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds in the first half, helping the Clippers maintain a 65-51 lead.
In the third quarter, the Clippers made their first five shots and quickly built the lead to 74-54. Even defensive specialist Quinton Ross scored seven of his 11 points in the period.
Phoenix went the middle two quarters without an offensive rebound. Overall, the Suns were manhandled on the glass, 57-26, and outscored 31-6 in second-chance points.
NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash said he didn't know if the Suns' obvious lack of energy was a holdover from their hard-fought seven-game first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Enditem
