The schedule wasn’t up to them, but the Clippers were up for the challenge, chasing Monday’s feel-good victory over the second-best team in the NBA with a game the next night in Phoenix – the league’s best team.
They took their shot at another upset, tried to pull off another double-digit comeback, but there was to be no surprise party Tuesday at Footprint Center in Phoenix, where the Suns held on for a 103-96 victory, taking care of business against a depleted version of their Western Conference finals foe from a season ago.
By snapping the Clippers’ two-game winning spurt, the Suns improved to 47-10 (a franchise record through 57 games) by winning their sixth consecutive game and 17th of their past 18.
But the Clippers made Monty Williams’ team sweat, which is more than plenty other opponents can claim.
Coming into Tuesday’s contest, Phoenix won its past two games by an average of 25.5 points, including its 131-107 blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team it lost to in last season’s NBA Finals. The well-rested Suns also routed Orlando, 132-105, on Saturday in their most recent game, when they had 40 assists and just seven turnovers.
But behind a team-high 23 points from Marcus Morris Sr., the Clippers (29-31) kept it characteristically competitive – despite the fact that they continue to play without injured All-Stars Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Paul George (elbow) and, for the third consecutive game, without recently acquired Norman Powell (foot).
It was neck and neck midway through the third period until the Suns strung together a 17-6 run over the final five minutes of the third quarter to give themselves an 81-72 lead entering the final frame. Phoenix is now 36-0 this season when leading after three quarters.
It wasn’t without suspense: The Clippers – who have won nine times this season when trailing by 10 or more points – responded with a run of their own. With help from two consecutive Luke Kennard 3-pointers, they outscored Phoenix 14-2 to start the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 83-82.
The score was tied at 90-90 when Chris Paul (17 points, 14 assists) took over, hitting a 3-pointer and flipping consecutive lobs to Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker (26 points) and then making his own layup to push the lead to 99-95.
Mikal Bridges’ 3-pointer in the corner with 39 seconds left made it 102-95. The Clippers scored just one point in the final 2:53.
After splitting their first two meetings this season, the Clippers forced 17 turnovers – more than the Suns had committed since they had 20 against Toronto on Jan. 11.
Nicolas Batum chipped in with 18 points – eclipsing 10,000 for his career. He also had seven rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal. Reggie Jackson had 14 points, but he shot a tired 7 for 26 and 0 for 8 from 3-point range. Ivica Zubac added 12 points and 13 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season.
Off the bench, Robert Covington had six points and was ultra-aggressive on defense, gathering eight rebounds, three steals and one block.
More to come on this story.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism