Ring the Bell: Suns top Clippers in 2-OT

Phoenix, AZ (Basketball News) - Shawn Marion scored 36 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in a gusty performance, as the Phoenix Suns earned a wild 125-118 victory in double-overtime over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Raja Bell’s desperation three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left sent the game into the second overtime, and he finished with 22 points for the Suns, who gained a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles.

Tim Thomas scored 25 points before fouling out for the Suns. Reigning league MVP Steve Nash contributed 17 points and 13 assists for Phoenix, which is one victory away from its second straight trip to the conference finals.

Elton Brand poured in 33 points and had 15 boards for the Clippers. Sam Cassell added 32 points, 27 of which came after halftime. However, the Clippers let a three-point lead slip away in the final seconds of the first OT and were hurt by missed shots, turnovers and mental errors.

Cassell’s three-pointer from the right corner, with the help of a crushing screen from Brand, tied the game at 101 with 39.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Marion was fouled on a long inbounds pass, but missed two free throws. However, each team then made crucial mental mistakes. Cassell was called for an eight-second violation for not getting the ball past halfcourt. Nash and Cassell each missed three-pointers. Thomas tracked down Cassell’s miss in the corner with more than three seconds left, but instead of calling timeout, launched the ball down the court as time expired.

Nash had two crucial turnovers in the final minute of the first OT, but the Clippers couldn’t capitalize. Nash’s errant bounce pass to Marion in the lane was picked off by Cassell, who hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left for a 111-108 LA lead.

Bell nailed a three-pointer from the left corner over Daniel Ewing with 1.1 seconds remaining to tie the game. The Clippers threw away the ensuing inbounds pass, but Marion missed a shot near halfcourt at the buzzer.

Marion’s follow dunk off a Boris Diaw miss gave the Suns a 115-113 lead, but Marion had to be helped off the court after jamming his left ankle while stepping on a Clipper player’s foot. Marion came back a short time later, and the Suns never lost the lead.

A three-point play by Brand had the Clippers within 119-118 with 1:22 left, but Marion, also playing with four stitches over his left eye, countered with a layup.

Cuttino Mobley missed a shot and Leandro Barbosa added two free throws for a 123-118 Phoenix lead with 52.3 seconds remaining.

LA’s Shaun Livingston turned the ball over after stepping over the end line, Cassell missed a three-pointer, and two free throws from Nash with 19.5 seconds left accounted for the final margin.

Phoenix blew a 19-point lead, but still managed to pull out the victory with the heroics of Bell and Marion.

The Clippers led 31-26 after the opening quarter, but Phoenix got hot in the second. A 26-11 run by the Suns moved them to a 54-46 lead. The Suns were ahead 58-52 at the break and extended the margin to 78-59 following a Marion layup midway through the third.

However, the Clippers didn’t break and got within 84-78 going into the fourth. Bell’s three-pointer extended Phoenix to a 101-96 lead with over three minutes left in the period.

Game Notes

Thomas tied his playoff career-best for points, while Marion set one for rebounds...Brand’s rebounds are his best in the playoffs...The Clippers outrebounded the Suns, 57-50...Brand also had five blocked shots...Vladimir Radmanovic had 13 points for the Clippers, while Chris Kaman had 11 points and 10 boards...Mobley had 10 points...Barbosa scored 15...Marion finished 16-of-33 from the field...Phoenix had a solid run in the 2005 playoffs, as it advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, but was eliminated in five games by the San Antonio Spurs, who defeated the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the championship round...Lakers fan Jack Nicholson was on hand to root on the Clippers.