Depleted Clippers fade after halftime in loss to Suns

Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points on a night when Kawhi Leonard and James Harden sat out, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and the Clippers never recovered in a 115-102 defeat, marking their third straight loss.

Clippers' Challenges Early in Season

The Clippers hoped to build chemistry and experiment with their rotation in the early season weeks with a revamped roster. However, missing key players and overlapping absences have made winning difficult.

Suns' Strong Performance

Jalen Green scored 29 points in his Phoenix debut.
Devin Booker contributed 24 points.
The Suns made 19 three-pointers, nearly matching their season high.

Green, who missed the first eight games due to a right hamstring injury, played 23 minutes and shot 10-for-20, including 6-for-13 from beyond the arc. He was acquired from Houston in a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to the Rockets.

Clippers’ Key Players Absent

Kawhi Leonard (24.3 points per game) was sidelined with a right ankle sprain.
James Harden (23.3 points per game) missed the game for personal reasons.

Despite a halftime lead of 51-48, the Clippers could not hold off the Suns in the second half.

Other Clippers Contributions

Cam Christie scored 17 points off the bench.
John Collins added 13 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 12 points.

“The Clippers were hoping to spend the early weeks of the season building chemistry and sorting through their rotation combinations with a revamped roster.”

Summary: The Clippers struggled to maintain their lead without key stars, while Phoenix's sharpshooting and Jalen Green’s strong debut fueled their victory.

Los Angeles Daily News — 2025-11-07