With the 4th seed secured, the Los Angeles Clippers were without James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook. Nevertheless, they made the Suns sweat throughout all four quarters.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Although the Suns held a 15-point lead in the 2nd quarter, suggesting an effortless pull away for the win, Los Angeles responded with a strong run, entering halftime with a one-point lead.
In the 3rd quarter, the Clippers extended their lead to as much as eight points, driven by Bones Hyland, who finished with a season-high 37 points. Prior to tonight, over the past 14 games, Hyland had combined for a mere 21 points.
During the 1st half, the Suns attempted a remarkable 32 three-point shots, breaking a season-high, yet only nine found the mark.
Phoenix didn’t regain the lead until midway through the 4th quarter, concluding the night with a decisive 23-2 run, making the final score somewhat deceiving.
The Suns’ big three accounted for 87 of their 124 points, with Devin Booker leading the way with 37 points.
Although Grayson Allen scored just six points off the bench for the first time this season, the Suns enjoyed a +18 advantage while he was on the court.
Indeed, the Suns secured a 16-point victory; however, it is crucial to acknowledge the prevalent laziness and evident lack of urgency. It is difficult to justify why they trailed for such an extended period against a Clippers team missing four of its top players.
In the 81st game of the season, the Suns will face the Sacramento Kings on Friday at 7:30. Phoenix currently trail the Pelicans by 0.5 games for the final spot in the playoffs.
