Griffin, Crawford lead as Los Angeles Clippers better Phoenix Suns 117-99: NBA Recap
Los Angeles Clippers extended their winning streak to 6 with a 117-99 win over the Phoenix Suns here at Staples Center on Saturday night. The game was much closer than the score line suggests, with the Suns scoring basket for basket and keeping the Clippers in check for most of the game.
Los Angeles depth however paved dividends as their bench combined 56 points on the night and fuelled energy late into the game.
“Thank the bench, because our starters are struggling." Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro commented.
Blake Griffin scored the night high 24 points and hauled down 8 rebounds, Jamal Crawford came off the bench to post 21 points - this is the 10th time he has scored 20 points or more coming off the bench, no other league player has managed the feat more than 5 times. Chris Paul posted another double-double with 16 points and 11 assists for the winning cause.
The Suns bench also came out strong on the night. Michael Beasley scored a team high 21 points, Luis Scola collected a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Shannon Brown added19 points.
DeAndre Jordan’s hook shot opened up the proceedings for the Los Angeles but it was followed by a 9-0 run by the Phoenix Suns, who went up 9-2. Willie Green knocked down a three pointer for the Clippers to reduce the deficit and Paul also connected one from downtown to put Los Angeles up by 14-13. It was pretty even between both teams in the passage that followed with the lead trading hands quite a number of times. The Suns were leading 31-28 by the end of the period.
It was still a three point game as a Lamar Odom layup for the Clips had them trailing 32-35 early in the period before the Suns scored 5 straight points, going up 40-32. The Clips were right behind them and a 5-0 run reduced the deficit down to 3 points again. Later on, Jordan’s free throws tied the score on 44 and the Clippers pressed on to carve out a 6 point advantage by halftime.
The score was tied on 76 later in the third quarter. Caron Butler scored two from downtown to put the Clips ahead but the Suns reduced the deficit down to 2 by the end of the period.
It was all Los Angeles in the fourth period as they outscored the Phoenix by 16. The Clippers raced to a 102-87 advantage early and kept pulling ahead. An Eric Bledsoe dunk shot had them leading 108-93 with 4:44 on the regulation and they went on to win by 117-99.
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