Phoenix Shines in Their Fourth Win After Being Down 21 in Los Angeles
About 10 days ago, divisional rivals the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers started the new season facing off against one another. This matchup ended up going into overtime and became the first overtime game of the 2024-2025 NBA season with the Suns pulling off a 116-113 win. Now a little over a week later, these two teams met once again for their second of four seasonal matchups. Phoenix headed into this game with a 3-1 record, with their only loss coming from the Los Angeles Lakers. For the Clippers, they started the season at 2-2, winning against teams like the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, but losing to the Suns, and the Portland Trail Blazers. After being down as much as 21 points early in the third quarter, Phoenix pulled off an epic comeback to obtain their fourth win of the season, shining against the Clippers in a 125-119 ball game. The Suns will play Portland at home in their next game, while the Clippers will continue their homestand against the Thunder.
Los Angeles started this game off hot dropping 37 points in the first quarter, and after 12 minutes leading by 17 with James Harden leading the way with 12 points and seven assists. Kevin Porter Jr. had eight points in the first. By halftime, the Clippers would have themselves an 18-point lead. At the half, Harden put up a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. Devin Booker finished the first half with 15 and Kevin Durant dropped 10 for the Suns. During the first few minutes of the third quarter, this game drastically went back and forth as both teams were hot straight out of the gate. With seven minutes and 37 seconds left in the third, the Suns began to go on a run that turned the tides of this game around. Phoenix’s 12-2 run propelled them to only be down by three. Royce O’Neale tied the game at 89 with a little more than three minutes in the third. Los Angeles would hold the lead after three-quarters of action with a 93-91 lead. With just about five minutes left in the ball game, the Suns held a 108-105 lead and never looked back, carrying on to take a huge 125-119 win, their second win against the Clippers this season.
The Clippers shot 34 percent from three-point range as a unit, and 14 turnovers with Harden having six of those turnovers. Phoenix shot a little more than 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. Booker finished this game with 40 points along with five rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. O’Neale scored 21 points off the bench going five for six from downtown. Durant had 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and two blocks in the win. For the Clippers, Harden put up a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks. However, the former MVP did finish this game with six turnovers. Norman Powell recorded 23 points, and center Ivica Zubac went nine for 10 from the field with 22 points in the loss.
