*CHRIS PAUL IS HEADED TO THE FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER HE DELIVERED THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF HIS CAREER: Paul scored 41 points in 40 minutes on 14 of 24 from the field, including an absurd seven of eight from behind the arc, plus eight assists and zero turnovers. He had 31 points in the second half. Wednesday night was even better than his close-out game dominance against the Nuggets which was 37 points in 40 minutes on 14 of 19 from the field, seven assists and two turnovers.

        *MONTY WILLIAMS 12, TOM THIBODEAU 1: That is the post-season victory scoreboard for Williams and Thibodeau, the bogus Coach of the Year winner. Williams, after Monday’s poor performance, began Game Six with an opening possession set play from Paul to Mikal Bridges weakside lob against the Clippers zone that confounded the Suns in Game Five. Later, Williams, after the Clippers scored 10 straight to narrow the score to 89-82, reinserted Paul and the Suns ended the third quarter on a 10-1 run.

        *SPEAKING OF THE THIRD QUARTER, THE SUNS OVERCAME THEIR BIGGEST HURDLE DURING THIS SERIES: The Suns outscored the Clippers 31-26 on Wednesday night, this after they were outscored in the third quarter in four of the first five games and were a cumulative -25.

        *WILLIAMS AND PAUL ALSO GOT DEANDRE AYTON INVOLVED EARLY: Ayton was five of six in the first quarter, the initial two makes against the Clippers zone defensive that confounded the Suns and negated Ayton on Monday night. In Game Six he was back to being the most physical presence on the floor and finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

        *JAI CROWDER FOUND HIS THREE-POINT STROKE: Crowder scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half, including four of six from behind the arc. In the first five games, Crowder scored a total of 31 points of seven of 26 from the field.

        *TORREY CRAIG PLAYED 52 MINUTES OVER THE FIRST FIVE GAMES OF THIS SERIES, ZERO IN MONDAY NIGHT’S LOSS: In Game Six, Craig played 31 minutes because Cam Johnson was unavailable (non-COVID illness). Craig spent nearly all those minutes guarding Paul George who had just 21 points on six of 15, one of six on threes. With Craig on the floor, the Suns were a game best +28.