Jared Dudley stars as Phoenix Suns down Los Angeles Clippers 81-78 - NBA Recap
On a night when both Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers struggled with their shooting throughout the 48 minutes, it was the defense that turned out to be the difference.
The Suns were the better team defensively and edge past the Clippers 81-78, to improve their record to 16-20.
Phoenix got off to a slow start and trailed throughout the first half, however in the third quarter; they changed gears and outscored the Clippers 31-17 to turn things around. Then in an absorbing final quarter, they choked the
Clippers offense to seal the deal.
Jared Dudley led the Suns with a game high 22 points including 3-for-4 shots from downtown and 7 boards while Marcin Gortat had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Veteran forward Grant Hill bundled 14 points on a respectable
6 for 10 from the floor.
"It wasn't pretty, especially early on," Dudley said post game. "It's been two games at home where we haven't gotten it going early but defense kept us in there."
Blake Griffin marshalled the Clippers with 17 points on a season worst 6 for 19 from the floor and 7 boards whereas Chris Paul also had a terrible day with shooting. Up against Steve Nash, CP3 netted only 6 for 15 from the floor
for score 16 points. Reserves Kenyon Martin and Maurice Williams finished with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro was disappointed with his team’s lack lustre offense;
"We just didn't shoot it," said Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro. "Both teams played last night. They struggled shooting. We struggled shooting. It was a low-scoring, ugly game especially in the first half."
A slow start by the Suns helped the Clips dominate the entire first half. However Los Angeles never managed to pull away and entered the break with a slender 35-32 advantage. The early part of the third quarter witnessed the same
trend, but with less than 5 minutes remaining in the frame and the scores levelled at 47 all, the Suns launched a game turning 16-5 spurt, capped by a Markieff Morris’s 3 to take a 63-52 lead.
The Clippers responded swiftly and started the deciding frame with an 18-7 run, making it 70 all. With less than 30 seconds remaining, the Clippers were only behind by two points 75-77, but Jared and Hill scored consecutive 2's
in the period that followed and the Clips never threatened after that.
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