Los Angeles Clippers beat Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs ...

The Phoenix Suns lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series on Sunday night at Footprint Center in Phoenix, 115-110.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 38 points as the No. 5 seed Clippers took a 1-0 series lead on the No. 4 seed Suns.

Game 2 of the series is Tuesday in Phoenix.

Kevin Durant had 27 points in his playoff debut for Phoenix. He was one rebound shy of a triple double.

Devin Booker had 26 points for the Suns.

Russell Westbrook only shot 3-for-19 from the field for Los Angeles, but had 10 rebounds and 8 assists, while making several key plays for the Clippers, none bigger than blocking a layup attempt from Booker with 10 seconds left with the Clippers leading 111-108.

The Clippers had 15 offensive rebounds in the game, compared to six for the Suns.

Phoenix only got eight points from its bench in the game.

Final score: Clippers 115, Suns 110

More:Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns schedule, TV: How to watch NBA Playoffs series

Suns can't get rebound vs. Clippers

The Clippers had the ball with 28.1 seconds left after Phoenix had been unable to secure defensive rebounds twice on LA's possession. Russell Westbrook was then fouled by Devin Booker and hit two free throws to give the Clippers a 111-108 lead.

Score: Clippers 111, Suns 108 (17.7 seconds left in fourth quarter)

Clippers catch fire from 3 late, Suns respond

The Clippers hit 3-pointers on three straight possessions late, two from Kawhi Leonard and one from Eric Gordon to take a 109-103 lead, then Kevin Durant hit a huge 3-pointer for the Suns to make it 109-106.

After a stop, Chris Paul hit two free throws to pull Phoenix within 109-108.

Score: Clippers 109, Suns 108 (1:08 left in fourth quarter)

Clippers cling to 1-point lead vs. Suns

There is 3:07 left in the fourth quarter and the Clippers lead 100-99.

Devin Booker has made several amazing plays on defense for the Suns to keep Phoenix close, with it even being said that he "is playing like the best defensive player in the NBA" by the TNT brodcast.

Booker has four blocks and four steals in the game.

Score: Clippers 100, Suns 99 (3:07 left in fourth quarter)

Back-and-forth in fourth quarter between Suns, Clippers

We have ourselves a ball game.

The Clippers and Suns keep going back-and-forth in the fourth quarter.

This game feels like it could come down to the buzzer.

Kawhi Leonard is up to 32 points for the Clippers. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker each have 24 points for the Suns. Durant also has 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Score: Clippers 97, Suns 96 (5:32 left in third quarter)

Suns lose momentum to end third quarter

The Suns' run reached 15-0 and a 77-68 lead in the third quarter, but the team lost momentum late in the third quarter when Kevin Durant went to the bench.

The Clippers ended the quarter on a run of their own, outscoring the Suns 13-4 to make it an 81-81 game at the end of the third quarter.

Kawhi Leonard has a game high 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting for Los Angeles.

The Suns have just six points from their bench, and only one field goal, a bucket from Jock Landale.

Score: Suns 81, Clippers 81 (end of third quarter)

Suns on big run vs. Clippers

The Suns are on a 12-0 run against the Clippers to give them a 74-68 lead in the game.

When the Suns took a 70-68 lead, it was their first lead in the game since the score was 10-8.

Deandre Ayton did pick up his fourth foul of the game during the run, but Monty Williams elected to keep him in the lineup (he did take him out with 4:58 left in the quarter).

The Suns are on fire from the field, with their field goal percentage up to 51% (26-for-51). The Clippers are suddenly 25-for-55 (45.5%).

Phoenix has now outscored Los Angeles 20-9 in the third quarter.

Score: Suns 74, Clippers 68 (4:58 left in third quarter)

Suns draw within two points against Clippers

Phoenix has outscored Los Angeles 12-9 in the third quarter to pull within 68-66 at the first break in the third quarter.

Devin Booker has come alive for the Suns, with 22 points in the game now on 8-for-14 shooting. Phoenix continues to get the the foul line, where it has gone 19-for-22 compared to Los Angeles' 12-for-15.

Kawhi Leonard is up to 20 points for the Clippers, on 7-for-12 shooting.

Score: Clippers 68, Suns 66 (7:12 left in third quarter)

Ayton gets 2 quick fouls in second half

The Suns' Deandre Ayton picked up two quick fouls in the first 2:30 of the second half, giving him three fouls in the game after he picked up a phantom foul in the first half when he was called for a foul instead of Devin Booker.

He is staying in the game.

Score: Clippers 66, Suns 62 (9:17 left in third quarter)

Zubac has monster first half for Clippers vs. Suns

A key for the Clippers in the first half? Ivica Zubac dominated for Los Angeles, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

Deandre Ayton had eight points and three rebounds for the Suns.

That matchup is one to keep an eye on in the second half of the game.

Suns pull within 5 points at halftime vs. Clippers

After trailing by double digits for most of the first half (and by as many as 16), the Suns rallied at the end of the second quarter to pull within 59-54 at the half.

Phoenix will take it after shooting 18-for-40 from the field in the first half. The Clippers shot 22-for-43.

Eric Gordon led Los Angeles with 14 points in the first half, while Kawhi Leonard had 13.

Kevin Durant, after being held scoreless in the first quarter, scored 17 points in the second quarter.

Devin Booker has 16 for Phoenix.

The Suns went 15-for-18 from the free throw line, which helped get them back in the game. The Clippers were 9-for-12 from the line in the first half.

Score: Clippers 59, Suns 54 (halftime)

Suns heating up offensively

The Suns are starting to shoot the ball better against the Clippers and have pulled within 45-35 with 4:02 left in the first half.

The team is now 12-for-33 from the field, but has been able to get a little closer by going 9-from-12 from the free throw line.

Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker each have eight points for the Suns.

Interestingly, the Suns have two points from their bench, on two Bismack Biyombo free throws. The Clippers have 14 bench points, led by Norm Powell's six.

Score: Clippers 45, Suns 35 (4:02 left in first half)

Mason Plumlee hurt in second quarter for Clippers

The Suns pulled within 38-25 on a monster dunk by Deandre Ayon, who was open because the Clippers' Mason Plumlee got hurt on the other side of the court, with TNT speculating about his pinkie being out of place.

The Suns continue to struggle shooting the ball, being just 9-for-27 in the game, while the Clippers are 14-for-28.

Score: Clippers 38, Suns 25 (7:45 left in second quarter)

Kevin Durant gets first points for Suns

Kevin Durant has finally scored his first points in a playoff game for the Suns, with 9:44 left in the second quarter.

Durant drilled two free throws to pull Phoenix within 35-21. Maybe this will get him going and help the Suns get something going as well?

Score: Clippers 35, Suns 21 (9:44 left in second quarter)

Clippers end first quarter on 10-1 run vs. Suns

The first quarter was a great one for the Clippers, who ended it on a 10-1 run to take a 30-18 lead.

Los Angeles is 11-for-20 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3-point range, while Phoenix is just 7-for-22 overall and 2-for-7 from 3-point range.

Eric Gordon had 12 points for the Clippers in the first quarter.

Devin Booker had just six for Phoenix on 3-for-8 shooting. Kevin Durant went 0-for-4 and didn't score.

The Suns will obviously need more from their two starts to get back into this game.

Score: Clippers 30, Suns 18 (end of first quarter)

Suns shift up second unit vs. Clippers

NBA teams usually shorten their bench in the playoffs.

The Suns just brought in four players off the bench to join Devin Booker in the second unit.

Phoenix is currently going with Landry Shamet, Josh Okogie, Ish Wainwright and Bismack Biyombo with Booker while Kevin Durant, Torrey Craig, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton get a breather (Durant returned with 51 seconds left in the first quarter).

Can the unit provide a spark or will it fizzle?

Torrey Craig off to strong start for Suns

Torrey Craig was a surprise starter for the Suns in Game 1 against the Clippers.

He's justified the start so far, scoring six points on 2-for-3 shooting for Phoenix, tying Devin Booker for the team lead.

Score: Clippers 22, Suns 17 (2:28 left in first quarter)

Eric Gordon, Clippers off to hot start vs. Suns

The Clippers are on an 11-2 run to take a 16-10 lead with 5:54 left in the first quarter.

Los Angeles is 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 on 3-point attempts.

Eric Gordon has 10 of the Clippers' 16 points on 4-for-5 shooting overall, and is 2-for-2 from 3-point range.

The Suns are 4-for-11 from the field and 1-for-4 from 3-point range.

Kevin Durant has yet to score. Devin Booker leads Phoenix with four points.

Score: Clippers 16, Suns 10 (5:54 left in first quarter)

Chris Paul drains long 3 for Suns

The Suns could really use a hot-shooting Chris Paul in this series against the Clippers.

Paul got off to a good start in the first quarter, draining a long 3 (from 30 feet) to tie the game with the Clippers.

Score: Suns 5, Clippers 5 (8:34 left in first quarter)

Tip-off delayed for Suns vs. Clippers game

There are still six minutes left in the Heat vs. Bucks game on TNT, pushing back the start of the Suns vs. Clippers game, which is scheduled to follow on TNT. The Suns game started on NBA TV before the Bucks game ended.

Starting lineups for Suns vs. Clippers game

The Suns are starting Kevin Durant and Torrey Craig at forward, with Deandre Ayton at center and Devin Booker and Chris Paul as the guards.

The Clippers are going with Kawhi Leonard and Nicolas Batum at forward, Ivica Zubac at center and Eric Gordon and Russell Westbrook at guards.

Cameron Payne is out for the Suns with low back soreness. Paul George is out for the Clippers with a right knee sprain.

Marc Davis, Kevin Scott and Brian Forte are the officials in the game, with Scott Twardoski the alternate.

Starting Craig over Josh Okogie is a bit of a surprise for Phoenix. The Republic's Duane Rankin explains the possible rationale behind the move here.

How to watch Game 1 of Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs series

The Suns vs. Clippers game on Sunday can be seen on TNT, Bally Sports Arizona and Bally Sports SoCal.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Phoenix, with Game 3 on Thursday in Los Angeles and Game 4 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

You can see the complete schedule for the Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs series here.

Suns vs. Clippers Game 1 prediction

USA TODAY Sports' Sportsbook Wire has the Suns winning the game over the Clippers on Sunday, 116-110 in its prediction for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs series.

You can read its breakdown of the game, as well as other picks and predictions for the contest here.

Suns vs. Clippers Game 1 odds

The Suns are a 7.5-point favorite over the Clippers, according to Tipico Sportsbook.

Phoenix is -310 on the moneyline, while Los Angeles is +255.

The over/under for the game is set at 225.5 points.

You can see more odds for the Suns vs. Clippers NBA Playoffs series here.

Suns vs. Clippers series picks

The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin has Phoenix winning the series over Los Angeles in six games, but not everything agrees.

ESPN's Kendrick Perkins has the Clippers beating the Suns in seven games.

You can read their pick explanations, and see other picks for the first-round NBA Playoffs series here.

Suns vs. Clippers regular season results

Interestingly, the home team lost all four games in the regular season series between the Suns and Clippers.

Phoenix won on Oct. 23 in Los Angeles, 112, 95. The Suns also beat the Clippers in LA on Dec. 15, 111-95.

Los Angeles won in Phoenix on Feb. 16, 116-107 and again on April 9, 119-114.

You can read a breakdown of the Suns vs. Clippers series here.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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