Depleted Clippers fade after halftime in loss to Suns

Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points as the Clippers played without stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and secured a 115-102 victory, marking the Clippers' third consecutive loss.

Game Summary

The Clippers aimed to build chemistry early in the season with their revamped roster, but missing key players and overlapping absences have made winning difficult. Despite holding a 51-48 lead at halftime, they could not keep pace against Phoenix.

Suns’ Key Contributions

Jalen Green scored 29 points in his Phoenix debut.
Devin Booker added 24 points.
The Suns hit 19 three-pointers, just one shy of their season high.

Clippers’ Performance

Ivica Zubac posted 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Cam Christie contributed 17 points off the bench.
John Collins scored 13 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 12 points.

Player Absences

James Harden (23.3 ppg) missed the game due to personal reasons.
Kawhi Leonard (24.3 ppg) sat out with a right ankle sprain.

"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."

"Green was acquired from Houston in the offseason in the seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to the Rockets."

The Suns’ strong third-quarter performance ensured they never lost control, leaving the Clippers unable to recover.

Author's summary: The Clippers struggled without Leonard and Harden, unable to maintain their halftime lead as the Suns’ Green and Booker powered a decisive third-quarter surge to secure the win.

Orange County Register — 2025-11-07