Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but the Los Angeles Clippers could not maintain their early edge, falling 115-102 to the Phoenix Suns. It was their third straight loss.
Game Summary
The Clippers led 51-48 at halftime, yet Phoenix controlled the third quarter and never looked back. Missing key starters Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Los Angeles struggled to sustain offensive rhythm.
Player Highlights
- Ivica Zubac: 23 points, 11 rebounds
- Cam Christie: 17 points off the bench
- John Collins: 13 points
- Bogdan Bogdanovic: 12 points
The team announced that James Harden, averaging 23.3 points per game, sat out for personal reasons, while Kawhi Leonard, at 24.3 ppg, was out with a right ankle sprain.
Suns' Performance
For Phoenix, Jalen Green excelled in his debut, scoring 29 points after missing the first eight games due to a right hamstring strain. Devin Booker added 24 points to round out the attack.
“Green, a guard who missed the Suns’ first eight games with a right hamstring strain, played 23 minutes and shot 10 for 20 from the field, including 6 for 13 from 3-point range.”
The Suns connected on 19 three-pointers, just one shy of their season high. Green, recently acquired from Houston in the offseason trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to the Rockets, gave the team an immediate boost.
Team Outlook
The Clippers continue to seek consistency as overlapping absences among star players hinder their early-season chemistry and momentum.
Author’s summary: The Clippers fell apart after halftime without Leonard and Harden, while Jalen Green’s impressive debut propelled the Suns to a confident home victory.