Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but the Los Angeles Clippers, missing both Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, fell to the Phoenix Suns 115–102. The defeat marked their third consecutive loss.
The Clippers had a 51–48 lead at halftime, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and never looked back. The result continued a challenging start for a Clippers squad still trying to build chemistry and adjust its rotation with a new-look roster.
Team and Player Highlights
- Jalen Green led the Suns with 29 points in his Phoenix debut.
- Devin Booker contributed 24 points.
- Cam Christie added 17 off the bench for the Clippers.
- John Collins scored 13 and Bogdan Bogdanovic 12 for Los Angeles.
Injury and Absence Report
- Kawhi Leonard (24.3 ppg) sat out with a right ankle sprain.
- James Harden (23.3 ppg) missed the game due to personal reasons.
Green’s Impressive Debut
Green, returning from a right hamstring strain that kept him out of the Suns’ first eight games, played 23 minutes and shot 10-for-20 from the field. He made 6 of 13 three-pointers as Phoenix hit 19 threes overall, just one shy of their season high.
The 21-year-old guard joined the Suns in the offseason as part of a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to Houston.
“The Clippers were hoping to spend the early weeks of the season building chemistry and sorting through their rotation combinations with a revamped roster.”
Author’s Summary
The Clippers lost their third straight as Phoenix’s hot shooting led by Jalen Green overwhelmed a shorthanded L.A. squad still struggling to find rhythm early in the season.