Stayin’ alive in Phoenix

Clippers cut Suns lead to 3-2

PHOENIX – Paul George scored 41 points as the Los Angeles Clippers kept their NBA Western Conference finals series alive with a battling 116-102 road victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

With the Suns poised to clinch a series victory in front of an expectant home crowd, George once again put the Clippers on his back to stave off elimination from the postseason.

The Clippers talisman exploded for 20 points alone in the third quarter to take the game away from Phoenix, which took a fleeting lead midway through the period with a Chris Paul jump shot.

It was the only time Phoenix held the lead throughout Game 5, and the Clippers can now level the series at 3-3 with a victory in Game 6 in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

“That’s just who we are – we fight, we’re scrappy, we leave everything on the line and we do it together,” George said of the Clippers’ never-say-die approach.

“That’s the most important thing – we do it together.”

The win marked the third time during these playoffs that the Clippers have won an elimination game, and Monday’s win came without several starters including the injured Kawhi Leonard.

“All season long we’ve been down guys, guys have been out, different guys have been stepping up and playing well,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.

“I keep saying this group is resilient – but this group really is...We’re a good team no matter who’s on the floor.

“Work’s not done. But we came into a hostile environment and got a greedy win without three of our starters. Now we’ve got to do it again two more times,” he said.