NBA Game Notes (April 18, 2023)

Here are the NBA game notes for games that were played on April 18, 2023.

Suns Bounce Back

The Phoenix Suns bounced back from a tough Game 1 loss, beating the LA Clippers 123-109 to even their Western Conference First Round series at a game apiece. The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.

The Suns’ Devin Booker recorded game highs of 38 points and nine assists. Booker shot 14-22 from the field — including 4-7 from 3-point range — and made all six of his free throws.

Teammate Kevin Durant scored 25 points on 10-19 shooting from the field, adding six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. It’s the 119th time Durant has scored at least 25 points in a playoff game, the fifth-most such games in NBA history:

• 183 — LeBron James

• 152 — Michael Jordan

• 126 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• 123 — Kobe Bryant

• 119 — Kevin Durant

Suns center Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double, scoring 14 points and hauling in a game-high 13 rebounds. Ayton was typically efficient from the field, making seven of his 10 attempts.

The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in the loss, adding eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. All four figures were team highs. Leonard shot 11-20 from the field — including 3-5 from 3-point range — and hit six of his seven free throws.

Teammate Russell Westbrook came back from a 3-19 shooting performance in Game 1 to score 28 points on 9-16 shooting from the floor. Westbrook made all eight of his free throws and also contributed five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.