Suns’ winning streak ends at two games after loss to Clippers
Dec 20, 2017, 11:04 PM
Phoenix Suns forward TJ Warren, middle, drives to the basket between Los Angeles Clippers guard Milos Teodosic, left, and center DeAndre Jordan during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
LOS ANGELES — Austin Rivers scored 21 points, DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 108-94 on Wednesday night to end a three-game skid.
Back home from a 1-4 road trip, the injury-depleted Clippers had lost seven of 10 before leading all the way against a young Phoenix team that has its own injury woes.
T.J. Warren led Phoenix with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Josh Jackson added 17 points. The Suns dropped their ninth in a row to the Clippers at Staples Center.
Ahead by 18 points at halftime, the Clippers extended their lead to 25 in the third quarter. They opened with an 18-11 run to go up 71-46, with Rivers scoring nine points.
The Suns answered with a 19-3 spurt to close to 74-64, getting points from five different players.
But the Clippers scored seven of the quarter’s final nine points for an 81-66 lead going into the fourth. Willie Reed grabbed Montrezl Harrell’s missed free throw and dunked, and Lou Williams followed with a jam. Williams finished with 18 points.
Phoenix made a final stand in the fourth. Down by 22, the Suns used a 14-5 run to get to 98-85. Warren had 14 in the period, but the Clippers got six straight points from Jordan, who finished with 12 points, to put the game away.
TIP-INS
Suns: G Devin Booker (left adductor strain), G Brandon Knight (left ACL tear), G Davon Reed (left meniscus repair) and F-C Alan Williams (right meniscus repair) were out. … The Suns had erased double-digit deficits in winning their two previous games. They were trying to win three in a row for the first time this season. … Phoenix fell to 0-2 against the Clippers this season.
Clippers: F Danilo Gallinari will be out until at least January with a partial tear of his left glute muscle. He missed 13 games with the strained left glute and returned briefly before sustaining a contusion to the glute muscle. Further examination revealed a partial tear. … F Wesley Johnson (left foot soreness) will be out about a week.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in the opener of a three-game homestand.
Clippers: Visit the Houston Rockets on Friday in their first game against former teammate Chris Paul, who was traded last summer.
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