George scores 33 points, Leonard adds 30 to help surging Clippers beat Suns 131-122
PHOENIX (AP) Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue was still stewing a little in the postgame press conference, replaying in his head how the Clippers' offense got a little stagnant during the final eight minutes against Phoenix on Wednesday night.
The good news for the Clippers is the first 40 minutes were so good it didn't really matter.
Paul George scored 33 points, Kawhi Leonard added 30 and the Clippers extended their winning streak to four straight by beating the Suns 131-122. Los Angeles has won 13 of 15 while Phoenix had its four-game winning streak snapped.
George shot 8 of 14 from the field, going 5 of 10 from 3-point range. James Harden had 22 points and 11 assists.
The Clippers shot 55% from the field and 53% from 3-point range - efficient numbers all around. Harden said he expects that will be the norm as he continues to adapt to his new team after being traded from Philadelphia on Oct. 31.
“We still haven't figured it out, because different teams guard us differently," Harden said. "Once we've seen every defense, which probably won't be until the end of the year, we'll figure out how to attack.”
Los Angeles appears to be a quick study with an 18-5 record after starting the season 3-7.
The Clippers kept a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half - pushing the advantage to 23 points midway through the third - but the Suns made a run in the fourth quarter and cut it to 118-110 with 5:13 remaining.
L.A.'s Norman Powell responded with a 3 that helped the Clippers regain control. He scored 13 points off the bench.
“It's just making the right pass and making the right play - that's what we've got to be good at,” Lue said. “We want teams to double team us with all the shooting we have, but we just didn't handle it the right way.”
Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points on 11-of-15 shooting, with Kevin Durant missing his second straight game because of soreness in his right hamstring. Bradley Beal added 21 points, but shot just 7 of 20 and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. Bol Bol scored 14 points, including two 3s.
“Really proud of how we competed - we didn't give up on the game. That's a positive attribute for our team,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “I'm more concerned with how we started defensively. I don't think we had the necessary disposition to guard an elite offense.”
Los Angeles never trailed, taking a 30-13 lead late in the first quarter, unleashing waves of offense against the overmatched Phoenix defense. The Clippers led 70-51 at halftime after shooting 58.5% from the field.
“We've got to start games better and with a sense of urgency. Be ready for the fight,” Booker said. “We were fighting uphill the whole game. We showed some things in the second half, what it looks like when we turn up the energy and intensity.”
George had 21 points before the break while Leonard and Terance Mann both had 12.
The Suns seemed more interested in sniping at the referees rather than playing defense. Booker and Beal were both called for technical fouls in the first half.
Phoenix announced a 100th straight sellout crowd, counting games in both the regular season and postseason.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At New Orleans on Friday night.
Suns: Host Miami on Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:52 | Jump ball. Ivica Zubac vs. Jusuf Nurkic (James Harden gains possession) | |||
11:34 | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 3-0 | |
11:18 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 3-2 | |
11:00 | Paul George turnover (lost ball) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
10:54 | Grayson Allen misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:51 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Terance Mann misses two point driving layup | |||
10:39 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
10:32 | Bradley Beal misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
10:30 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point running dunk (James Harden assists) | 5-2 | |
10:05 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 5-4 | |
9:51 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:48 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
9:39 | Ivica Zubac misses two point hook shot | |||
9:36 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
9:20 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point hook shot | |||
9:18 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
9:08 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:03 | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | |||
8:59 | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | |||
8:57 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | Chimezie Metu misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:32 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
8:22 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 8-4 | |
8:02 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 8-6 | |
7:52 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 11-6 | |
7:41 | Devin Booker offensive foul (Terance Mann draws the foul) | |||
7:41 | Devin Booker turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:27 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:23 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
7:16 | +3 | Chimezie Metu makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 11-9 | |
6:59 | +3 | Terance Mann makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 14-9 | |
6:43 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving layup | 14-11 | |
6:31 | +2 | Paul George makes two point cutting layup (James Harden assists) | 16-11 | |
6:31 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
6:31 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:31 | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 17-11 | |
6:16 | Bradley Beal misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
6:10 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
6:06 | Russell Westbrook misses two point running layup | |||
6:02 | Terance Mann offensive rebound | |||
6:02 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point tip layup | 19-11 | |
5:51 | Ivica Zubac personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
5:48 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point reverse layup (Devin Booker assists) | 19-13 | |
5:20 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 22-13 | |
5:03 | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (bad pass) (Terance Mann steals) | |||
4:56 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point running layup (Paul George assists) | 24-13 | |
4:56 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
4:46 | Keita Bates-Diop misses three point jump shot | |||
4:42 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
4:37 | Grayson Allen shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
4:37 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-13 | |
4:37 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-13 | |
4:21 | Grayson Allen misses two point driving layup | |||
4:20 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
4:17 | Ivica Zubac blocks Keita Bates-Diop's two point layup | |||
4:17 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Terance Mann misses three point jump shot | |||
3:51 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point layup | 28-13 | |
3:28 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:27 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
3:18 | +2 | Paul George makes two point pullup jump shot | 30-13 | |
3:03 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point finger roll layup (Devin Booker assists) | 30-15 | |
2:33 | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Grayson Allen steals) | |||
2:24 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 30-18 | |
2:23 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
2:10 | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:07 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
1:58 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
1:54 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
1:44 | Norman Powell turnover (lost ball) (Bradley Beal steals) | |||
1:36 | Bradley Beal misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:33 | Bradley Beal offensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Devin Booker turnover (bad pass) (Paul George steals) | |||
1:20 | Paul George misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:20 | Paul George offensive rebound | |||
1:16 | +2 | Paul George makes two point driving layup | 32-18 | |
1:16 | Bradley Beal shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
1:16 | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-18 | |
0:55 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
0:52 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
0:47 | Norman Powell misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
0:45 | Eric Gordon defensive rebound | |||
0:38 | +2 | Eric Gordon makes two point driving layup | 33-20 | |
0:38 | Daniel Theis defensive goaltending violation | |||
0:27 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point cutting layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 35-20 | |
0:05 | Devin Booker turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | |||
0:01 | Russell Westbrook misses two point running layup | |||
0:01 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Suns delay of game violation | |||
11:44 | Clippers technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
11:44 | +1 | Bradley Beal makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 35-21 | |
11:35 | Bradley Beal misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:32 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
11:22 | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | |||
11:20 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point running layup | 35-23 | |
10:59 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup | 37-23 | |
10:51 | Chimezie Metu misses three point jump shot | |||
10:48 | Bol Bol offensive rebound | |||
10:46 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 37-25 | |
10:32 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Chimezie Metu steals) | |||
10:27 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point running layup (Chimezie Metu assists) | 37-27 | |
10:09 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 39-27 | |
9:58 | Daniel Theis personal foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
9:51 | Kawhi Leonard shooting foul (Eric Gordon draws the foul) | |||
9:51 | +1 | Eric Gordon makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-28 | |
9:51 | +1 | Eric Gordon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-29 | |
9:36 | Kawhi Leonard turnover (bad pass) (Chimezie Metu steals) | |||
9:33 | +2 | Chimezie Metu makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Josh Okogie assists) | 39-31 | |
9:33 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
9:17 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Amir Coffey assists) | 42-31 | |
8:54 | Eric Gordon misses two point driving layup | |||
8:51 | Eric Gordon offensive rebound | |||
8:51 | Eric Gordon misses two point tip layup | |||
8:51 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
8:45 | +3 | James Harden makes three point stepback jump shot | 45-31 | |
8:33 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point cutting layup (Bradley Beal assists) | 45-33 | |
8:10 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:08 | Eric Gordon defensive rebound | |||
8:03 | Eric Gordon misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
8:00 | Josh Okogie offensive rebound | |||
7:49 | Chimezie Metu misses three point jump shot | |||
7:45 | Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound | |||
7:33 | James Harden offensive foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
7:33 | James Harden turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:15 | Chimezie Metu turnover (lost ball) (Daniel Theis steals) | |||
7:09 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point running jump shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 48-33 | |
7:07 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:55 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point driving finger roll layup | 48-35 | |
6:55 | Amir Coffey shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
6:55 | Grayson Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
6:53 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Grayson Allen steals) | |||
6:31 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot | 48-37 | |
6:20 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 51-37 | |
6:06 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point driving layup | 51-39 | |
5:51 | James Harden misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
5:49 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | Bradley Beal misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
5:43 | Bol Bol offensive rebound | |||
5:43 | Kawhi Leonard blocks Bol Bol's two point layup | |||
5:42 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
5:25 | Bol Bol defensive rebound | |||
5:09 | Bol Bol turnover (lost ball) (Kawhi Leonard steals) | |||
5:06 | Grayson Allen shooting foul (Amir Coffey draws the foul) | |||
5:06 | Amir Coffey misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:06 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
5:06 | +1 | Amir Coffey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-39 | |
4:48 | Grayson Allen turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:36 | Keita Bates-Diop personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | |||
4:23 | +2 | James Harden makes two point stepback jump shot | 54-39 | |
4:21 | Clippers delay of game violation | |||
4:09 | +3 | Josh Okogie makes three point jump shot (Grayson Allen assists) | 54-42 | |
3:52 | Grayson Allen kicked ball violation |