Devin Booker pours in 40 as Suns rally past Clippers

NBA: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers31 October 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Devin Booker scored a season-high 40 points as the visiting Phoenix Suns rallied from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to earn a 125-119 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif.

Royce O’Neale added 21 points, Kevin Durant scored 18, rookie Ryan Dunn had 16 in his second career start and Jusuf Nurkic had 11 as the Suns won for the second time in two weeks in the Clippers’ new $2 billion Intuit Dome.

Phoenix made 15 consecutive shots to open the second half, sparking a rally that extended its winning streak to three games.

James Harden produced 25 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, while Norman Powell added 23 points as the Clippers fell to 0-3 in their new building. Harden became the 20th player in NBA history to pass 26,000 career points.

Ivica Zubac scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Kevin Porter Jr. recorded 14 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 11 points for the Clippers, who also lost to the Suns 116-113 in overtime on Oct. 23 in the regular-season debut of their new home.

The Clippers got off to a fast start and led 37-18 late in the first quarter. The hosts finished the opening period with a 37-20 advantage after shooting 61.5 percent from the floor.

Phoenix cut its deficit to eight points in the second quarter before Los Angeles led 70-52 at halftime. Harden had a double-double before the end of the first half with 13 points and 10 assists, and the Clippers had a 33-14 rebounding advantage.

The Suns stormed back in the third quarter to tie the game at 89-89 with 3:16 left in the period on a 3-pointer from O’Neale. The Clippers ended the third quarter with a 93-91 lead.

The Suns took a 103-102 lead with 6:41 left on a Dunn floater and never trailed again. O’Neale put the game away on a 3-pointer with 44.7 seconds left for a 118-112 lead.

The Clippers continue to play without star Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely with a chronic knee injury.

–Field-level media