Brand leads Clippers into Game Seven

LOS ANGELES: Elton Brand scored 30 points and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Phoenix 118-106 on Thursday to level their National Basketball Association second-round series at three triumphs each.

The deciding game in the best-of-seven showdown will be Monday at Phoenix, where the Suns eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round. Monday’s winner will face either Dallas or San Antonio in the Western Conference final.

“We survived to play another game. Game Seven is do or die for both ball clubs,” Clippers veteran guard Sam Cassell said. “We won playing our style of game. If we do that again, we will win.”    The Clippers, a long-suffering squad that ended a nine-year playoff absence this season, received a standing ovation from the fans to celebrate a Cinderella season in the shadow and same home arena as the famed rival Lakers. 

The Clippers franchise has not played a seventh game in a playoff series since 1975 when, as the Buffalo Braves, they lost to Washington. The Clippers have never reached a conference final.