Gugliotta’s 24 points leads Suns to season-opening win

LOS ANGELES — Tom Gugliotta had 24 points and 17 rebounds for his new team as the Phoenix Suns opened the season with a 101-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Gugliotta, signed as a free agent from the Minnesota Timberwolves, shot 7-of-14 from the field and 10-of-13 on free throws. The Suns used a 17-0run in the first 5Mzminutes of the second half to take the lead for good.

Cliff Robinson had 17 points and Jason Kidd had 18 points and IO assists for the Suns.

Erie Piatkowski scored 16 points to lead the Clippers, who were playing their first regular-season game under new coach Chris Ford. Rookie center Michael Olowokandi had 14 points and six rebounds in his debut, and

Lamond Murray added 14 points and rebounds.

The Suns trailed 56-53at halftime but outscored the Clippers 17-0 in the first m inutes of the third quarter to take a 70-56lead.

Phoenix stretched the lead to 74-58 on Kidd’s fallaway jumper with 4:48 left. The Clippers pulled to 79-71 after Lorenzen Wright’s layup and free throw with 1:20 left in the third, but never got any closer.

Los Angeles was behind for much of the second quarter until Darrick Martin’s 3pointer gave the Clippers a 44-43 lead with 3:20left.thesunstiedit53-53,butmurray’s 3-pointer from the halfcourt line at the buzzer gave the Clippers a 56-53advantage.

Suns guard Rex Chapman did not play because of a strained right hamstring. Sherman Douglas, who signed a one-year deal with the Clippers on Thursday, played four minutes, had two assists and missed two layups.