It was simply final week that the Clippers hosted the Phoenix Suns and solely 9 days later they have been enjoying them once more on the Intuit Dome.
Earlier than the sport, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated there weren’t a variety of benefits to enjoying a staff just like the Suns so quickly once more, particularly a staff with deadly weapons Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. A minimum of they didn’t should face Bradley Beal, who didn’t play Thursday due to an injured elbow.
It seemed as if the Clippers had discovered a bonus once they jumped on the Suns early, constructing a 19-point lead within the first quarter that grew to 21 within the third.
The Clippers, nonetheless, have been unable to carry the lead and misplaced 125-119 to the Suns regardless of having 5 gamers rating in double figures.
That’s as a result of Booker torched the Clippers for 40 factors to associate with 11 assists and 5 rebounds.
James Harden led the Clippers with a triple-double of 25 factors, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. It was his 78th profession triple-double, transferring him right into a tie with Corridor of Fame legend and one-time Laker Wilt Chamberlain for seventh-most in NBA historical past.
Harden surpassed 26,000 profession factors, turning into one in all 20 gamers in league historical past to succeed in the milestone.
The Clippers misplaced their season opener to the Suns by three factors on the Intuit Dome, and are 0-3 at their new house in Inglewood.
The Clippers noticed their 70-52 halftime lead dwindle to simply two factors getting into the fourth quarter. It didn’t assist the Clippers that Norman Powell (23 factors) left for the locker room after he was hit within the face. He returned to the sport within the fourth quarter.
“We know what they are running, we know how they tried to attack us last game, we know how we need to play, how we need to attack them,” Lue stated earlier than the sport. “So, when you play a team this close early in the season, I think you get a chance to kind of figure out what teams are trying to be going forward, what their identity is going to be and how they want to play, style of play. So, hopefully we catch them early enough that we know exactly what they are going to do and what they try to do.”
The Clippers began this recreation sturdy, taking pictures 61.5% from the sector within the first quarter. Their protection was on level throughout these first 12 minutes, holding the Suns 36.4% from the sector earlier than issues went south.
