Clippers Dominate Suns in Decisive Showdown
In a decisive showdown on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Clippers dominated the Phoenix Suns with a score of 117-93, despite being without their new star player, James Harden. Kawhi Leonard shined on the court, contributing 25 points and grabbing eight rebounds, marking his impressive 27th consecutive game with at least 20 points scored. This performance is especially telling as Leonard was notably left out of the Western Conference All-Star reserves earlier that same day.
Clippers’ Strong Performance
The Clippers, who had suffered a loss to the Denver Nuggets just two days prior, showcased their strength in the paint, dramatically out-rebounding the Suns by a margin of 63-35 and outscoring them in the paint 64-18. Ivica Zubac played a key role in this victory, hauling in an impressive 20 rebounds. The team’s shooting efficiency was also noteworthy, as they shot 51.8% from the field.
Supporting Leonard’s efforts, Jordan Miller scored 20 points, while John Collins added 16 points. Zubac, contributing further to the scoreboard, finished the game with 14 points alongside Kobe Sanders, who started in place of Harden and scored 12 points.
The Clippers, recovering from a rough start to the season with a record of 6-21, have turned things around, winning 17 of their last 21 games and bringing their current record to just two games below the .500 mark. In contrast, the Suns came into the game with a three-game winning streak and have maintained a 15-7 record since December 21, despite the loss.
Suns Struggle Without Key Players
For the Suns, Grayson Allen led the way with 23 points and eight assists, while Dillon Brooks contributed 22 points. However, the team struggled offensively, managing to shoot only 33.3% from the field, marking just the sixth game this season where they were held under 100 points. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin each chipped in with 12 points.
Significantly, the Suns were missing key players Devin Booker, sidelined due to a right ankle sprain, and Jalen Green, out with a right hamstring and left hip issues. Interestingly, Booker was also chosen as a reserve for the All-Star game announced earlier on the same day. The season series between these two teams has ended evenly, with each winning two games against the other.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Clippers will return to the court on Monday night to face the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Suns will travel to Portland for a matchup on Tuesday night.
