Phoenix Suns blow out the Los Angeles Clippers in a 111 – 98 win - NBA
With six of its players scoring in double-figures, The Phoenix Suns overcame the absence of star point-guard Steve Nash to grab a 111 – 98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at the U.S Airways Center in Phoenix on Friday. The Suns rallied in the second period
to decimate the Clippers in the desert and snapped their four-game losing streak with an impressive win.
The fact that they did it without their scoring leader and Captain Steve Nash on the floor was even more impressive. Nash, who also leads the league in assists, did shoot around with the team before he was scratched from the line-up. He was exhibiting flu-like
symptoms and was allowed to sit out the game.
The Suns got scoring contributions from all of its players, led by Grant Hill with 19 points. Jared Dudley added 16 points and seven rebounds. Aaron Brooks had 17 points and six assists, while the rookie Zabian Dowdell posted a season high 14 points, while
also dishing out five assists.
Hakim Warrick also contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as the Suns shot an impressive 52 percent from the floor compared to the Clippers’ 44.4 percent.
Aaron Brooks and Zabian Dowdell handled the point-guard duties in Nash’s absence and made quite a mark with the way they ran the team.
"Obviously you are not going to replace Steve, but I thought they did a good job of running the team, being aggressive offensively and then making plays," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.
It was the first time this season that the Suns won without Nash in the line-up. The enigmatic point-guard had missed four games this season due to a groin injury. Phoenix was 0 – 4 in those games.
The Clippers were careless with their ball-handling and wayward passes. They committed 21 turnovers in the game.
"The beginning of the first quarter, we did all right," Clippers forward Blake Griffin said. "Then, it went downhill."
The Suns' defence hounded Griffin all night to hold him to 6-of-15 shooting, but he still posted a double with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
The Clippers led early in the game with a 14 - 9 advantage before Phoenix heated up behind Grant Hill to end the quarter strong. Hill added 11 points in the period to put the Suns up 25 - 23 heading into the second.
Phoenix burst out of the gate in the second period and controlled proceedings from the start to outscore the Clippers 32 – 21 and take a commanding 57 - 44 lead into the halftime break. Phoenix outscored the Clippers 25 – 12 in the final 7:46 minutes of
the half to put away the game for good.
Dowdell added 10 points and three assists during that run. The Suns attacked the rim and scored 28 points in the paint in the second period while shooting 61 percent.
"I don't think we had much energy tonight," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We let Phoenix run where they wanted to when they wanted to."
The Suns never let the game get close, and held onto a sizable advantage throughout the rest of the game.
Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the Clippers.
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