Emotions were running high in the closing minutes of the Los Angeles Clippers season.
With the Clippers already trailing the Phoenix Suns 118-92 midway through the fourth quarter of an elimination game, Patrick Beverley – who has a reputation as one of the dirtier players in the league – decided to close the season out on his own terms.
During a stoppage in play, Suns’ point guard Chris Paul was making his way back to his team’s bench when he brushed past Beverley, appearing to say something that upset him. Beverley then shoved Paul in the back, sending him falling to the ground.
The Clippers point guard was ejected from the game after the cheap shot, effectively ending his season as Los Angeles lost the game, 130-103.
“Book (Devin Booker) plays with an edge, and I’m the same way. Over the years, people talk junk to me, a lot of the times I usually say something back. But, I changed a little, a little,” Paul said, referring to the Beverley incident. “And I kept thinking if we do what we are supposed to do, I get the last laugh. So, you stay the course long enough, you break them. And that’s what we did.”
After the shove, Paul’s teammates got in Beverley’s face in retaliation – with a notable exception. Suns center Frank Kaminsky, who did not play in the game, had a front-row seat to the chaos, yet didn’t exactly react too strongly.
Kaminsky seemed shocked, possibly unsure of what to do. The Wisconsin product stood still, watching the event play out for a couple of seconds before dishing out a weak shove on Beverley.
This isn’t the first dustup between the two point guards have had in this series. In Game 5, while Paul was in the act of shooting, Beverley swept his legs out from under him. He was called for a flagrant foul.
The tenacious defender then skipped around, flailing his arms to imply that Paul was flopping. He then went over to Paul and told him: “Way to sell it.”
Like CP3 predicted, the Suns would get the last laugh, sending the Clippers home in Game 6. Phoenix will now play either the Bucks or Hawks in the NBA Finals. For Paul, it will be his first finals appearance in his 16-year career.
Patrick Beverley ends Clippers season with cheap shot on Chris Paul - New York Post
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