Depleted Clippers fade after halftime in loss to Suns

Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points on a night when Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were absent, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and the Clippers never recovered in a 115-102 defeat, marking their third consecutive loss.

Clippers' Struggles Amid Missing Stars

The Clippers aimed to build chemistry early in the season with their revamped roster, but missing core players has made solidifying rotations and securing wins difficult.

Suns’ Strong Performance with Newcomer Jalen Green

Jalen Green scored 29 points in his Phoenix debut after missing the first eight games due to a hamstring strain.
Devin Booker contributed 24 points.
The Suns made 19 three-pointers, just one shy of their season high.

Green played 23 minutes, shooting 10-for-20 from the field, including 6-for-13 from beyond the arc. He was acquired this offseason in the seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant from Phoenix to Houston.

Clippers’ Key Players Absent

James Harden (23.3 ppg) missed the game for personal reasons.
Kawhi Leonard (24.3 ppg) was sidelined with a right ankle sprain.

Despite leading 51-48 at halftime, the Clippers couldn't hold off the Suns in the third quarter.

Other Contributions

Cam Christie's bench scoring reached 17 points.
John Collins added 13 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 12 points.

"The Clippers were hoping to spend the early weeks of the season building chemistry and sorting through their rotation combinations with a revamped roster."

"Green, a guard who missed the Suns’ first eight games with a right hamstring strain, played 23 minutes and shot 10 for 20 from the field, including 6 for 13 from 3-point range."

Author's summary: The Clippers struggled to maintain their early lead without key stars, while the Suns’ balanced offense, led by debuting Jalen Green, secured a decisive third-quarter surge and a third straight victory.

Orange County Register — 2025-11-07