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Deandre Ayton and Phoenix Suns advance to NBA Finals

By Eric Townsend

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns holds the Western Conference Championship trophy after the Suns defeated the LA Clippers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns holds the Western Conference Championship trophy after the Suns defeated the LA Clippers in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – Following a 28-year drought from the NBA Finals, Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns are finally heading back. 

After dropping game five in a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at home, former Wildcat Deandre Ayton finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds on 8-10 shooting to help the Phoenix Suns come away with the 130-103 game six win.

Coming in, the pressure was on for Ayton and Phoenix as the Suns jumped out to a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, before losing at home and giving the Clippers momentum to potentially push this series to a game seven.

Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats /

Arizona Wildcats

However, Phoenix took care of business from the start. Led by the stellar two-way play of Ayton, that of course wasn’t to be outdone by the 41 points and eight assists from 16-year NBA veteran Chris Paul and the 22 points and seven rebounds from Devin Booker.

Together, the trio banded as they helped build a 10-point lead in the first half. Unfortunately, Los Angeles would cut Phoenix’s lead down to one in the second quarter before the Suns eventually ended the half on a 13-5 run, pushing their lead to nine at the break.

Unlike the last couple of games, Phoenix would have big third and fourth quarters, outscoring Los Angeles 64-46 to come away with the 130-103 win, securing the game six victory, and taking the Western Conference Finals series by a 4-2 final.

Thanks to the stellar play of Deandre Ayton in the playoffs, the NBA Finals drought in the Valley is over as the Phoenix Suns advance.

With Phoenix advancing to the NBA Finals, Ayton now makes it seven-straight seasons in which the Wildcats will have a player in the Finals. It also makes it 18 of the last 27 NBA Finals to have Arizona Basketball represented. Even better, Suns’ owner Robert Sarver is also a UofA alum.

The Suns will now wait to see their opponent as the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks currently sit in a 2-2 tie in the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the Hawks win, former Wildcat Solomon Hill will face off with Ayton.

Here’s Ayton as he talks about advancing to the NBA Finals.

light. More. On Former Wildcats in the Pros

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