Clippers bounce back with impressive victory over Suns
LOS ANGELES » With another game the next day, the Clippers had little time to dwell on a stinging loss to the Lakers the night before. But the Phoenix Suns were in town and so was Kevin Durant, serving as a reminder why there are no nights off in the NBA.
“The games come so quick, you can't hang your head about a game that happened yesterday or two days ago,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “You got to move on and you got to be focused on the next team.”
Showing no signs of a hangover from the previous night, the Clippers set their sights on the Suns, playing with a high level of energy that was missing 24 hours earlier and defeated the Suns 138-111 on Monday at Crypto. com Arena.
Not only did the Clippers have to contend with Durant, who was making his return after missing the previous three games, but the Suns also had a healthy Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. All three have missed significant playing time recently because of injuries.
But the Clippers (23-13) also had a full complement of healthy players that allowed them to play their starters 25-plus minutes. Paul George led the Clippers with 25 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. Kawhi Leonard finished with 17 points, Ivica Zubac had 19 points, eight rebounds and
THE SCORE CLIPPERS 138, SUNS 111 Raptors at Clippers, Wednesday, 7:30p.m., BSSC
Up next: three assists, while James Harden had 19 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
The most prominent absence in the Suns' lineup has been Durant, who was out because of a hamstring injury. He had been averaging 29.6 points before being sidelined. But Monday, he was back in uniform and had 20 in the first half, a notso-subtle reminder of his offensive skills, something the
Clippers didn't have to experience the last time they played.
“They're a really good team, really great players, and they're a dangerous team,” Lue said. “Once they figure it out, it's going to be hell for a lot of teams. They're dangerous no matter when they have those three guys on the floor. Even with two guys on the floor, they're dangerous.”
The Clippers didn't wince at the Suns, who came in with renewed expectations with Durant back. Durant was sidelined when the Clippers visited Phoenix last week and watched their modest four-game winning streak end in a nine-point loss.
With or without the 13time All-Star, the story wasn't much different Monday night in L.A. The Clippers controlled this game, too.