Depleted Clippers fade after halftime in loss to Suns

Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Clippers, but Phoenix surged in the third quarter to secure a 115–102 victory on Thursday night. It was the Clippers’ third consecutive loss.

Missed Opportunities for Los Angeles

With key players Kawhi Leonard and James Harden unavailable, Los Angeles struggled to maintain consistency. Leonard sat out due to a right ankle sprain, while Harden missed the contest for personal reasons. The absence of both stars has complicated the team’s early-season efforts to build chemistry with their revamped roster.

Strong Performances by Phoenix

Jalen Green, making his debut for the Suns after missing the season’s first eight games with a right hamstring strain, led the charge with 29 points in 23 minutes. He shot 10 of 20 from the field and connected on six of thirteen three-point attempts.

Devin Booker contributed 24 points, while Cam Christie added 17 off the bench. John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic supplied 13 and 12 points respectively.

Game Flow

The Clippers held a slim 51–48 halftime lead before Phoenix dominated the third quarter. The Suns hit 19 three-pointers, falling just one short of their season high. Their long-range shooting and depth proved decisive as Los Angeles could not recover momentum in the final period.

“It’s been hard to build chemistry when core players keep missing games,” said a team representative, noting the overlapping absences that have hampered early progress.

Green joined Phoenix in the offseason as part of a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from the Suns to Houston.

Author’s Summary

Without Leonard and Harden, the Clippers briefly led but couldn’t withstand Phoenix’s third-quarter burst and Jalen Green’s standout debut performance.

Orange County Register — 2025-11-07