Beaten in the first game, already played in their room, Phoenix waited until the end of the first period to fully launch into these finals, thanks to their back Devin Booker, author of 38 points, well supported by the two veterans, Kevin Durant (25 points) and Chris Paul (16 points).

In Arizona, the Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard, thought they would repeat their Game 1 performance after scoring as many as 13 points in the first half, but a first three-point Booker shot allowed the Suns to come back to level (59-59) at halftime.

Then the Phoenix guard gave a recital in the third quarter by scoring 18 of his 38 points to beat L.A. with a 14-point lead, the largest of the game, at the final whistle.

"We wanted to win at home, it's done," Booker said after the game. "Now we're going to Los Angeles. It's the play-offs. You have to win no matter what. It doesn't matter what happened before. A new mission begins for us."

The two teams will meet again Thursday for Game 3 in California.

The intractable Celtics

Like the Suns, Jayson Tatum's Celtics took time to get into the game before jumping in and rolling on their opponents to sign a second victory in two games against the Atlanta Hawks.

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics against Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 between the two teams in the first round of the playoffs in Boston on April 18, 2023 © Maddie Meyer/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Atlanta won the first quarter 22-11, but Boston regained the lead in the second and never let go of the game again (107-90), giving itself a small safety cushion in the series before heading to Atlanta on Friday for Game 3.

Jayson Tatum had 29 points, including five 3-point shots, Derrick White added 26 points and Jaylen Brown added 18.

"This is the time of year when you have to be on top," Tatum said. "Everyone is fit, playing well, playing really well, but we can reach an even better level, I hope."

In the East again, the Cavaliers, the best team of the regular season, enforced their rank with authority 107-90 in Game 2 in Cleveland against the New York Knicks very quickly overwhelmed.

Deprived of their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the "Cavs" relied on Darius Garland, 32 points and 7 assists, but especially on an intractable defense, their trademark this season.

The two teams will meet in New York on Thursday for Game 3.

© 2023 AFP