Suns Strokes: Phoenix shocks the Clippers without Chris Paul
Jan 25, 2013, 7:49 AM | Updated: 8:19 am
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 93-88 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on January 24.
The Good:
Goran Dragic recorded his team-high tying eighth 20-point effort of the season with a game-high 24 points, two shy of his season high. But it was the Suns defense that led to the first back-to-back wins since a season-high four-game win streak from December 12-19. For only the fourth time this season, the Suns held an opponent under 40 percent shooting (39.8).
The Bad:
The Suns gave up 16 points off of 17 turnovers. Also, the team was outscored in the paint (38-26), on second chance possessions (15-7) and fast-break opportunities (21-14).
The Suns shot just 32 perent from three-point range.
He Said It:
“The last two games we have played as a team,” Dragic said. “We are hustling on defense; offense everybody is engaged, everybody is partipating. It’s much easier if you have five guys on the floor and everybody is dangerous for baskets so the defense cannot relax.”
Noted:
• *Lindsey Hunter became just the fourth Suns head coach in franchise history to begin his tenure 2-0. Hunter joins Alvin Gentry (2008-09), Scott Skiles (1999-00) and Jerry Colangelo (1969-70), each of whom were also midseason replacements.
• Jermaine O’Neal (irregular heartbeat) missed his second straight game but plans to travel with the team during a two-game Texas road swing.
Up Next:
The Suns (15-28) play their next two games on the road as they’ll do the Texas Two-Step: at San Antonio on Saturday, at Dallas on Sunday.
