Clippers' Sixth Man of the Year candidate Norman Powell: Suns 'built for the playoffs'

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns (46-32) play their final regular season home game against Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Clippers (50-28), which are on a three-game win streak. This will be the first of back-to-back home games against the Clippers, the Western Conference's fourth-place team. The teams play again in L.A. on Wednesday. The Clippers clinch both the Pacific Division title and a playoff spot if they win in Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Arizona Republic spoke to the Clippers' Sixth Man of the Year candidate Norman Powell, the NBA's fourth-best in 3-point shooting (43.8%), during the team's Tuesday media availability. Powell addressed the tight race among teams for Western Conference playoff seedings, L.A.'s two against Phoenix and helping Clippers' stars Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook while the team has been without Kawhi Leonard (left knee inflammation) for four games in April.

Powell on playing Suns in back-to-back games, final stretch to solidify West playoff seedings:

“It’s really important. I think it’s a two-game or game-and-a-half lead on the fifth and sixth seeds, even I think seventh as well. So I think being able to secure the next two wins for us to lock in our spot is really important to get ready for the playoffs and continue to prep for how we want to play and the level we want to be at.”

Powell on the Clippers playing without the injured Leonard, leading the team's second unit with Westbrook:

“The team is built for that. We have such a deep team, such versatile players that any given game, any given situation with guys being out, whether that’s injury or rest or whatever the case may be, guys are able to step up and fill that void. I think this team has been built for that for years, even before I got here, in the way they played, the way they fight. When I get in here, I contribute to that. I’m a versatile player that can play in a starting role, or coming off the bench and providing that spark … it’s something that I’m used to I’ve been playing with Kawhi for a few years here and played with him in Toronto (Powell and Leonard won the 2019 NBA title with Raptors). That next-man-up mentality is pretty much locked in.”

On facing the Suns’ Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal:

“They’ve been playing really well, playing together. I think they’re getting rhythm, getting a flow obviously defensively. It’s gonna be a tough game for us. They’re a team that’s built for the playoffs and we gotta bring our A game.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: LA Clippers' Norman Powell says Phoenix Suns 'built for playoffs'