Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns
The Clippers, missing key players Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, fell 115-102 to the Phoenix Suns, marking their third consecutive loss. Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and the Clippers couldn’t recover.
Game Highlights
- Jalen Green scored 29 points in his debut for Phoenix, playing 23 minutes despite missing the first eight games with a hamstring strain.
- Devin Booker added 24 points for the Suns.
- Cam Christie contributed 17 points off the bench, John Collins had 13, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 12 for the Clippers.
Player Absences Affect Clippers
The Clippers played without stars Kawhi Leonard (right ankle sprain) and James Harden (personal reasons). Harden, averaging 23.3 points per game, and Leonard, averaging 24.3 points, are critical parts of the team.
Suns’ Performance
Phoenix hit 19 three-pointers, just one shy of their season high, with Green shooting 6-for-13 from beyond the arc. Green was acquired in the offseason in a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to Houston.
"The Clippers were hoping to build chemistry and sort through their rotation with a revamped roster, but overlapping absences have made winning difficult."
The Clippers led 51-48 at halftime but were outperformed in the third quarter as the Suns took control of the game.
Author’s summary: The Clippers struggled without Leonard and Harden, allowing an energized Suns team, led by Jalen Green and Devin Booker, to pull away after halftime for a decisive victory.