Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Reggie Jackson, Ivica Zubac, Norm Powell, Luke Kennard… Back-to-back, the Clippers received the Suns tonight without four starters, but also their sixth and seventh men. For its part, Phoenix composed without DeAndre Ayton and Cam Payne but the duo Devin Booker – Mikal Bridges immediately gave them control of the match (29-18).
A 17-7 led by the Suns bench to open the second quarter puts the Clippers at 21 lengths (46-25). Terance Mann tries to wake up his team but Los Angeles returns to the locker room with eleven lost balls and 27 points behind (64-37)!
The Suns are up to 31 points ahead before the Clippers rebel. Terance Mann again he and Amir Coffey launch a 21-4 punctuated by a 3-pointer from Marcus Morris (82-68). The Suns, however, stop the bleeding thanks to Damion Lee and Josh Okogie. They respond with a 9-2 to regain a lead of more than 20 points (91-70), and close the door on a possible hold up from the Clippers. Both defenses raised their voices in the last quarter and Phoenix logically returned to victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A devastating 30-11. The Suns finished the first quarter 13-4, before killing the game by going 17-7 to start the second quarter. If Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges set the tone, it was Josh Okogie and Chris Paul who extinguished the much too diminished Clippers.
– Too much waste for the Clippers. With all their absences, the Clippers needed to put out a perfect copy to stay in the game. At halftime, they already had eleven stray balls and were on 13 of 44 on shots, including an incredible 6 of 24 from 2-pointers. If they woke up in the third quarter, they were going too far to hope to reverse the situation.
– Ty Lue’s frustration. Winners of three games in a row before tonight, the Clippers seemed to have found their rhythm. For this second match in 24 hours, we knew that Kawhi Leonard would be spared but six other players joined him in the infirmary. “I assure you that we are not just trying to rest players, they are all injured,” railed a visibly frustrated Lue before the meeting. We can understand it. The five players who started the game for the Clippers had only played two possessions together before tonight’s game. Fortunately for the Clippers coach, Leonard, George, and Jackson should be back soon. For the rest, it looks more complicated.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Mikal Bridges. Uncertain before the meeting, the Suns winger delivered an almost perfect performance, with 27 points at 11/18 on shots and a defense still as intractable.
✅ Chris Paul. With 15 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, CP3 signs one of the best games of its season.
✅ Terance Mann. The winger has been the best Clipper by far. He finished the game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists.
⛔ John Wall. Like most of his teammates, the point guard went through with 12 points on 5 of 15 on shots.
⛔ Devin Booker. Back from injury, the Suns star had started the match well, before being clumsy for the rest of the game: 6/22 on shots!
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (17-14) : the Clippers host the Wizards on Saturday.
Phoenix (17-12): the Suns find the Pelicans for the third time in ten days.
