Phoenix Suns’ Eric Bledsoe notches first career triple-double in heartbreaking loss to Clippers

Has the student become the master?

It sort of looked that way in Monday’s contest between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.

Eric Bledsoe spent two of his three years in Los Angeles backing up superstar point guard Chris Paul, but the former understudy outplayed the seven-time All-Star in the Suns’ heartbreaking overtime loss.

Bledsoe was in double-figures in both points and assists midway through the third quarter, and he grabbed his 10th rebound late in the fourth period, giving him his first career triple-double.

The fifth-year guard also exploded offensively in the fourth quarter, in which he scored 11 points and helped Phoenix to a 32-23 advantage in that frame.

The Suns forced an extra period on the road, and they looked in control with a four-point lead with 43 seconds left in overtime, but Los Angeles scored the final five points, including Blake Griffin’s buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Clippers narrowly escaped with a 121-120 win.

In total, Bledsoe racked up 27 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists. He was also a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line, and he added two steals and two blocks, including a denial of a Paul runner at the end of regulation, which pushed the two teams into overtime.

Paul, meanwhile, had a solid night of 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, although he shot just 8-for-23 from the field.

Griffin’s season high of 45 points, including the last-second three, ultimately proved to be the difference, as Los Angeles improved to 15-5 and Phoenix fell to 12-10.