DEVIN BOOKER scored 25 points before fouling out in the final minute and the Phoenix Suns escaped with an 84-80 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Suns can advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993 with a victory in Phoenix.

“We’re not looking too far ahead,” Booker said.

The Clippers rallied from 0-2 deficits to win against Dallas and Utah and reach the West finals for the first time in franchise history.

“It’s going to be hard and tough, but it has to be one game at a time,” Paul George said. “Play as hard as we can in Game 5.”

The Clippers struggled with poor shooting in all but the third quarter, when they made 10 of 17 shots to pull within three points. They got within one four times in the fourth, but could never take the lead in front of a sellout crowd of 18,222 that hung on every agonizing miss.

“It was a crazy, emotional game,” former Clipper Chris Paul said.

Los Angeles shot 32 percent (27 of 83) for the game; Phoenix was barely better at 36% (31 of 86). The Clippers, who led the league in 3-point shooting during the regular season, made five; the Suns hit four.

“That was a slugfest,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “It wasn’t Offense 101, for sure.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said: “We had a chance to take the lead on 12 possessions and couldn’t do it. It just wouldn’t fall for us.”

Deandre Ayton added 19 points and a career playoff-high 22 rebounds, and Paul had 18 points and seven assists.

George had 23 points, 16 rebounds and six assists before fouling out with 1 second left. Reggie Jackson added 20 points for the Clippers. (SD-Agencies)