Phoenix, AZ – In a hard-fought contest, the Phoenix Suns edged past the Los Angeles Clippers with a narrow 111-109 victory on Monday evening. Devin Booker led the charge for the Suns, contributing 26 points, while Kevin Durant followed closely with 24 points.
The Suns were in a comfortable position, holding a 103-90 lead with just over five minutes remaining after Durant connected on a key 3-pointer. However, the Clippers responded fiercely with a 10-0 run, cutting the gap to just one point at 107-106 following a jumper from Norman Powell with 40 seconds left on the clock.
In the clutch moments of the game, Grayson Allen sealed the win for Phoenix by sinking two free throws with only 10 seconds to go, extending the Suns’ lead to 111-107. This victory marks the Suns’ ninth win in their last 12 outings. Allen had a substantial impact off the bench, notching 18 points, while Tyus Jones contributed 17 points. The Suns displayed remarkable shooting from beyond the arc, tying a season-high with 22 3-pointers and converting 46.8% of their attempts from deep.
For the Clippers, Ivica Zubac had a standout performance, recording 25 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. James Harden also made his mark with 24 points and 10 assists, while Powell finished with 23 points.
Los Angeles faced a significant challenge at halftime, trailing 60-47. Yet, they fought back, mounting a comeback and taking a 66-65 lead early in the third quarter following a spectacular one-handed dunk from Kawhi Leonard. Despite the Clippers’ efforts, the Suns regrouped and regained the lead, heading into the fourth quarter with an 83-78 advantage.
Key takeaways from the game illustrate the Clippers’ near-comeback after spending much of the evening trailing but ultimately falling short against the Suns’ prolific 3-point shooting. For the Suns, the win was a positive outcome despite some tense moments at the end of the game. This season, Phoenix has occasionally struggled to create open shots from long range, but they certainly found their rhythm on Monday night with 47 attempts from beyond the arc.
A pivotal moment occurred when Allen intentionally missed a free throw with 1.3 seconds remaining, preventing the Clippers from utilizing timeouts. Powell’s desperate heave down the court as time expired fell short, securing the win for Phoenix.
In terms of performance stats, both Booker and Jones were notable for their three-point shooting, each draining five shots from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will head to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Wednesday, while the Suns will return home to take on the Timberwolves the same day.
