Booker’s 40 leads Phoenix Suns to 3rd straight win at LA Clippers

On November 1, 2024By Littum

Devin Booker’s 40 points and Kevin Durant’s 18 sparked Phoenix Suns‘ comeback win by Los Angeles Clippers125-119 Thursday.

This was the Suns’ third straight win and second straight over the Clippers (2-3) since their season opener on Oct. 23.

LA’s James Harden notched a triple-double as he finished with 23 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Their big starter Ivica Zubac had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

After a disastrous first half, the Suns (4-1) drained 12 of their 18 from the arc and shot 60% in the second half and overcame a 21-point margin early in the third quarter.

They took their first lead of the game, 96-95, on a fourth-time trey by rookie Ryan Dunn (16 points, 6-of-12 FG, 4-for-9 from 3), who started for the injured Bradley Beal. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer went with his small-ball lineup in the closing minutes, and Royce O’Neale (career-high 21 points, seven rebounds, one steal, one block off the bench) capped a 16-5 scoring run on a fast-break layup after he stripped Harden, extending the Suns’ biggest lead to eight with three minutes left.

The Suns return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday at 7 p.m

Booker, Durant led Suns comeback in 3rd

Phoenix shot 16-of-20 including 7-of-11 to trim LA’s lead to 93-91 with a huge surge in the third quarter.

The Clippers extended their lead to 21 from three straight buckets by Ivica Zubac within the first minute-plus. Then the Suns came alive behind Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, outscoring the Clippers 35-14 and tying the game on a triple by Royce O’Neale with 3:16 left.

Booker scored 12 of his 27 points to lead all scorers, and Durant had eight of his 18 during that stretch.

The Sun is still out of sync in the 2nd quarter

LA continued to dominate the Suns into halftime, leading 70-52.

Devin Booker scored eight of his 15 points during the Suns’ 16-7 run to open the second quarter. That cut the Clippers’ lead to eight with 8:33 left in the half, but the Clippers battled back and eventually ballooned the deficit to 18 in the final seconds.

The Suns are outrebounded 36-18 in the paint and 11-5 in fast-break points, outrebounded 33-15 including 12-5 in offensive rebounds, and the Clippers have seven blocks to the Suns’ one.

Phoenix’s other top contributors included Kevin Durant’s 10 points and Ryan Dunn’s nine (all on 3s). Clippers’ James Harden already has a double-double with 13 points with 10 assists, two blocks and two steals, and sharpshooter Norman Powell has 15 points.

Harden, the Clippers put the Suns in a big 1st quarter hole

James Harden had 12 points and seven assists to power LA to a 37-20 advantage to close the opening quarter.

Kevin Durant leads Phoenix with six points.

The Clippers reached their biggest lead at 19 on a 16-3 run after several players from the Suns’ second unit came in with 4:50 left. The Suns committed four turnovers, which the Clippers converted into eight points.

Dunn replaces the injured Beal in the Suns’ starting lineup

Suns rookie swingman Ryan Dunn will make his second start this season, replacing Bradley Beal (elbow), who has been ruled out. Dunn will open the game with point guard Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic at center.

The Clippers will start James Harden and Norman Powell in the backcourt, Terance Mann at the three, high-flying Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac at center.

Suns, Clippers injury reports

Phoenix starter Bradley Beal (elbow) was likely a game-time decision for Thursday’s game. Backup forward Josh Okogie (hamstring) will be out again and has yet to make his season debut.

LA star Kawhi Leonard (knee) and center Mo Bamba (knee) remain out. Veteran forward PJ Tucker is no longer with the team moving forward.

Booker, Durant led Suns comeback in 3rd

The Sun is still out of sync in the 2nd quarter

Harden, the Clippers put the Suns in a big 1st quarter hole

Dunn replaces the injured Beal in the Suns’ starting lineup

Suns, Clippers injury reports

More Suns coverage