With multiple players out for both teams, it may not have been quite the Western Conference Finals rematch some were expecting, but it was one of the LA Clippers’ best games of the season as they rolled past the visiting Phoenix Suns, 111-95.
Game Summary
It took nearly three minutes in the first quarter for the first basket to be scored by either team. For the Clippers, the first quarter was a good indicator of what was to come on the defensive end.
They used a solid opening defensive effort to hold the Suns to 21 points in the quarter while settling into their offense and putting up 27 points of their own.
The second quarter was when the Clippers really got rolling and started to build up their double-digit lead. In particular, it was Marcus Morris Sr. who found his shooting touch in that period. Morris had seven points in the second quarter on his way to 24 points on the night. The Clippers would take a 56-44 lead into the half.
The third quarter saw the Clippers go up by as many as 17 points until the Suns had a mini-spurt of their own to cut it down to eight points, 77-69. But in the fourth quarter, it was more Morris as he scored on an array of midrange jumpers, it was Luke Kennard knocking down a big three to push the lead back to 90-73, and it was Terance Mann being aggressive and moving without the ball.
The Suns never challenged after that and the Clippers were able to empty the bench with enough time left in the fourth quarter for the starters to get some additional rest.
Notes
- The Clippers had one of their best and most balanced offensive efforts of the season. Six players finished in double figures led by Marcus Morris Sr and Reggie Jackson who had 24 points each. 10 Clippers played tonight and all of them except Brandon Boston Jr scored. Overall they shot 55.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range. They moved the ball well and were able to generate quality shots. They never really went through the kind of offensive droughts they’ve had at times this season.
- The Clippers have been one of the best defensive teams all season and that was on full display against the Suns. They held Phoenix to 37.5 percent shooting from the field and 24.1 percent from three-point range. It was one of their top defensive performances of the season. Ivica Zubac really controlled the paint, contesting everything at the rim and the rest of the team did a good job funneling the Suns to the middle and wherever they wanted them to go. It’s cohesive team defense like this that will keep them in games and give them good chances to win while they continue to have players shuffling in and out of the lineup.