The Los Angeles Clippers erased 2-0 deficits in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but this feels different.
Playing without Kawhi Leonard, whose return from a right knee sprain to the Western Conference finals remains in serious doubt, the Clippers had to win Game 2, and they had it won on multiple occasions — until Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams scripted what looked to be the end of their 2020-21 campaign.
Speaking of Cam Payne, he logged game highs of 29 points and nine assists almost exactly one year removed from leaving the G League for a non-guaranteed contract to play with the Suns in the bubble, but the undersized and unheralded point guard's heroics were lost to history by a game-winner for the ages.