Things were looking awfully spooky for the Phoenix Suns early in their Thursday night meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers. Nothing could go right for the Suns, who found themselves making mistakes on both sides of the floor and down by over 20 points in the second quarter. Yet when all was said and done, Phoenix persevered, and exited the Intuit Dome with a 125-119 win over the Clippers.
The Suns are now 4-1 on the season and are 2-0 against the Clippers after also defeating them in their regular season opener. Devin Booker was the main source of Phoenix's massive comeback, scoring 40 points on the night. The Suns were without Bradley Beal due to an elbow injury while Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is still out with a knee injury that's kept him sidelined for each game early in the regular season. Rookie Ryan Dunn got the starting nod in Beal's place and scored a career-high 16 points.
The Suns got down early 13-4 thanks to a mix of turnovers and poor shooting, eventually leading to coach Mike Budenholzer calling a timeout. Phoenix's energy didn't shift throughout the next stretch of the first, as Budenholzer again was forced to call for time down 27-13 with just over three minutes left in the quarter. Los Angeles brought a 37-20 advantage into the second quarter with James Harden posting a smooth 12-7-5 stat line.
The Suns collected themselves between quarters and pieced together a 13-2 run to start the second and cutting the Los Angeles lead down to single digits with just under nine minutes to go in the half. That momentum didn't last long, as the Clippers built their lead back up to 18 moving into halftime in 70-52 fashion. Kevin Durant had a -24 plus-minus rating with four turnovers at the break while Harden was just two rebounds shy of a triple-double.
Phoenix went on a 17-3 run to cut the Clippers' lead to six halfway through the third. The Suns hit 15 straight shots in the third - erasing a 21-point deficit and tying the game at 89-89 before Los Angeles carried a 93-91 lead into the fourth quarter. It wasn't long before the Suns took their very first lead of the game just two minutes into action, eventually going up by four before Ty Lue stopped action with a timeout.
Much like their prior matchup, baskets were exchanged by both squads down to the final moments, though momentum swung in Phoenix's way with just under three minutes left. Booker knocked home a contested three-point attempt before Royce O'Neale stole the ball and laid it in on the other end on the ensuing possession to push the Suns ahead to their largest lead of the night, 115-107. With the Clippers within three with under a minute left, O'Neale converted a wide-open shot from deep to push the Suns back up by six. Two more free throws by O'Neale all but iced the game, seeing Phoenix walk off the court as winners when the final buzzer sounded.
Suns' Comeback Effort
The Suns' comeback from a 21-point deficit was fueled by their hot shooting in the third quarter. They hit 15 straight shots, erasing the entire deficit and tying the game at 89-89. Booker's 40 points were a huge part of the win, but the Suns also got big contributions from Dunn and O'Neale.
Durant's Struggles
Durant had a rough night, scoring only 18 points. He also had four turnovers. This wasn't the first time Durant struggled against the Clippers this season. In the Suns' opening night win over Los Angeles, Durant shot 7-for-18 from the field, including 1-for-5 from three-point range. He was able to score 25 points, but it was a much tougher performance than he is used to.
Key Takeaways From the Suns' Win
The Suns showed they have the ability to come back from a large deficit. They also showed they have the depth to win games even without one of their star players. Booker, Dunn, and O'Neale all stepped up in a big way. The Suns will need to continue to find ways to win games when their star players are not playing at their best. They will need to continue to play with the same energy and intensity they showed in the third quarter. The Suns' next game is at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. It will be interesting to see if they can carry this momentum into their next game.
The Suns' Upcoming Schedule
The Suns have a busy schedule coming up. After their game against the Trail Blazers, they will play the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Monday. They will then travel to Denver to face the Nuggets on Wednesday. The Suns will then return home to play the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The Suns will need to continue to play well to keep their winning ways going.
The Future of the Suns
The Suns look like a serious contender in the Western Conference this year. They have a good mix of young talent and veteran leadership. They also have a good coaching staff. If they can stay healthy and continue to play at a high level, they have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Suns will need to continue to make adjustments and find ways to get better as the season progresses. The Suns will also need to find a way to play well on the road. They have struggled on the road in the past. If they can find a way to play well on the road, they will be a dangerous team.
