With Russell Westbrook's interceptions, which ended in a dunk, and Paul George's winning shots, the Clippers had a perfect first five minutes. The Suns are already on the ropes, after conceding a 19-2 to start! Phoenix cannot find the path to the basket, even on simple shots, the gap rises to more than twenty points, forcing Frank Vogel to take three timeouts in less than eight minutes… With a few free throws, the Suns manage to painfully reaching the ten-point mark after twelve minutes in total darkness (10-37).
The Clippers continue to press at 3-points, with three more baskets in two minutes, including two from Amir Coffey. The clumsiness is still as significant among the Suns despite a few shots which finally go in. Ivica Zubac is well served near the circle, the Californians are serious, with an excellent Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles did not slow down after the first quarter. The gap at the break is therefore very significant (66-33).
The Suns were able to believe it in the last quarter
The interest of the second period then lies in the Suns' ability to react. There is bound to be better, even if Devin Booker is still in trouble. But opposite, in full management but without falling too easy, Los Angeles keeps wide distances. Only a few minutes because, at the end of the third quarter, a small 12-0 gave momentum to Phoenix (68-84). Is the feat possible?
After 3-point shots from Royce O'Neale and Kevin Durant, and with the gap down to just ten points, the home crowd wants to believe it. He can when Bradley Beal scores with the foul. But the minutes pass, Frank Vogel's players look a lot for the 3-point shot, miss too many, and opposite, Paul George makes the baskets which do good. Missed shots will follow one another in Phoenix and the comeback is no longer possible (92-105). Stunning against the Cavaliers, the Clippers thus avoid experiencing the same fate in Arizona.
What you must remember
– The first quarter. Phoenix fans will have nightmares about this. The audience at the Footprint Center was numbed by such a spectacle. Such suffering even. Let's start with the numbers: 10 points scored at 2/19 on the shoot including 0/4 at 3-pts. Without the six free throws, the Suns would have scored four poor little points in twelve minutes… But more than the statistics, it was the visual impression that was striking. The Clippers' defense, while good, was not stifling. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant had open shots, or near the rim, but nothing would go in. A trial.
– The Clippers, engine off. This domination will be confirmed in the second quarter for Tyronn Lue's players. The Suns being so harmless, the gap so large that there was a relaxation. Without doing anything, the Clippers took their foot off the gas and even played with the engine off. It lasted for a few minutes but against such attackers, it was risky. This is where the danger arrived and, when the machine was restarted, we nevertheless did not regain the control at the start of the match.
– Russell Westbrook’s big triple-double. James Harden absent, the 2017 MVP took his place in the major five and had a big game with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. It's his first triple-double of the season. The former Thunder perfectly illustrated the level of his team. In the first half, he is excellent in defense and in organizing the game. He is very fair. In second, it is less bright. He misses a lot of shots, some of which could have stopped the Suns' 12-0 run in the third quarter, and loses three balls.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
