NBA report: Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoenix Suns - Suns win 103-96

As the All-Star break approaches, the Phoenix Suns are on a run. They defeated the Los Angeles Clippers for their sixth consecutive victory and 10th in their last 11.

Chris Paul from Suns[Image- Twitter@suns]
By Blesson Daniel | Feb 16, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

A three-pointer by Chris Paul, an alley-oop jam by Devin Booker, and a clutch short jumper off the glass gave the Phoenix Suns a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The top backcourt in the NBA finished the season with a lackluster performance. The All-Star tandem of Booker and Paul combined for a game-high 26 points and 14 assists as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96 on Tuesday night.

As of Jan. 11, the Suns had won six of their previous eight games and 17 of their previous 18. With one game to go before the All-Star break, they have the NBA’s best record at 47-10. Including 19 points and nine rebounds, Mikal Bridges led the way, with a game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds, while Deandre Ayton finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Phoenix Suns have risen to the top of the NBA by excelling in the fourth quarter, particularly while leading. Final-quarter leads are currently 36-0 in favour of the Phoenix Suns this season.

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Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoenix Suns report

It was a back-and-forth second half between the Clippers and the Suns that had the fate of the game in doubt until the last minute of the game. Los Angeles dropped to a season record of 29-31.

With 23 points each, Marcus Morris Sr. and Nicolas Batum led the Clippers. In a poor shooting performance, Reggie Jackson was able to make only seven of his 26 attempts from the field.

Late in the third quarter, the Suns went on a 15-2 run to take an 81-68 lead. In the fourth quarter, Phoenix held on for an 81-72 lead.

Luke Kennard’s two 3-pointers helped the Clippers fight back immediately. Jackson’s 17-foot jumper with 6:10 left gave Los Angeles the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter, making it 90-88.

The Suns didn’t flinch in the fourth quarter, as they have done almost every time this season. With Booker and Bridges leading the pack, Paul retook the lead and began to draw away from his rivals.

At the break, the Suns led 53-47. Before the halftime, Booker had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead Phoenix. Morris, a former member of the Phoenix Suns, scored 14 points for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Batum gets 10,000

The game marked Batum’s 10,000th career point. Despite his age of 33, he is still playing in his 14th NBA campaign.

”Knowing it is just 10,000 – some guys get 30,000,” Batum said. ”I don’t know how they do that. It is pretty crazy. It’s an achievement. It is a good thing to put that on the resume.”