Suns win Game 5 in Double OT

I wasn't even planning on writing about this game, but it was too good not to mention, frankly. In double overtime, the Suns took the 3-2 series lead with a 125-118 victory, although the game was even closer than the 7 point difference would indicate.

The Clippers almost had the game in the bag, as they had a 111-108 lead with 3.8 seconds to play on the first overtime. However, Raja Bell caught the ball in the corner, and knocked down a 3 right in Daniel Ewing's eye, tying the game at 111, and sending it to a 2nd OT. Lots and lots of talk about how you should be fouling there, and I would agree, but I really don't think Ewing had time to. Bell caught it and shot it, and if Ewing would have fouled Bell would be going to the line to shoot 3. Can't take that risk.

Lots of excellent individual performers tonight for both teams. For the Clippers, you have to look at Elton Brand (33 points, 15 rebounds) and Sam Cassell (32 points, 5 assists), obviously. For the Suns, Shawn Marion (36 points, 20 rebounds) and Raja Bell (22 points, solid defense) led the way.

One unsung hero for the Clippers, I thought, was Shaun Livingston. Steve Nash was practically invisible in the overtimes, and that was because Shaun Livingston was guarding him. Earlier in the game, when Cassell was on Nash, the Suns pick & rolled the Clips to death. Then they made a switch, and Livingston shut Nash down. And to clarify, Livingston was decidedly not out of bounds when called for it.

One final note, I've heard over and over throughout these playoffs about how clutch Steve Nash and Sam Cassell are, but I don't see it. They take lots of big shots, and invariably they do make some, but they miss a huge amount of them. Look no further than the end of regulation. Sam Cassell gets called for an 8-second backcourt violation. Then Steve Nash takes a deep 3, which was not a good shot, and misses. Sam Cassell comes down and fires up a bad 3 with about 5 seconds left on the clock. Bad mental mistakes, bad shots.

All in all though, what a fantastic game in what has been a fantastic playoffs so far. Hopefully it will continue throughout. Game 6 is Thursday night.