Can’t take it away: Phoenix Suns 2021 playoffs moment No. 1
The Suns – and Chris Paul especially – broke Patrick Beverley
After a lackluster, disappointing effort at home in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals series against the Clippers, the Suns rebounded and ripped the hearts out of the Clippers in L.A.
The ruthlessness of the second half, which ended in a 130-103 Phoenix victory, was punctuated by Chris Paul’s personal 8-0 run that sent the Suns’ lead from 89-82 to 97-82 and that was it.
Paul scored 41 points and reached a career milestone: winning a conference finals series to advance to the NBA Finals.
It was impossible not to feel the NBA world recognizing the prize that Paul finally captured, but, as the clock ran down below six minutes, it was clear not everyone was feeling the same.
As Paul’s 3-pointer went through the basket to give Phoenix a 118-92 lead, Patrick Beverley began watching the celebrating Suns. And he walked closer to the midcourt high-fives and happiness.
And then he just broke.
Reverting to the antics of a spoiled, sore-loser little 10-year-old, Beverley executed a perfect, cheap-shot push from behind.
Patrick Beverley has received a one-game suspension without pay for shoving Chris Paul in Game 6.
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) July 3, 2021
Beverley will miss the first game of the 2021-22 season he's available to play in.
(via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/TXIICbSXBd
He’ll take the ejection penalty into next season and serve a one-game suspension.
Absent a useful explanation, he took to Twitter.
Patrick Beverley apologized to Chris Paul on Twitter after shoving him last night during Game 6. pic.twitter.com/hllxpvLCWm
— ESPN (@espn) July 1, 2021
NBA fans love Beverley’s tenaciousness; not so much the sportsmanship deficit.
That said, watching the Suns push Beverley to the point of breaking was, in an admittedly strange way, pretty satisfying.