Depleted Clippers fade after halftime in loss to Suns

Depleted Clippers Fade After Halftime in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on a night when Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were unavailable, but Phoenix dominated the third quarter and Los Angeles never recovered, losing 115-102 on Thursday. It marked the Clippers’ third straight defeat.

Game Overview

Los Angeles entered the matchup hoping to build early-season rhythm and experiment with new roster rotations, but multiple player absences have disrupted that progress. The team managed a 51-48 halftime lead before the Suns’ surge flipped control after the break.

Key Performers

Jalen Green led Phoenix with 29 points in his debut for the Suns.
Devin Booker contributed 24 points, while the Suns made 19 three-pointers—one short of their season best.
Cam Christie added 17 points off the Clippers’ bench, John Collins scored 13, and Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 12.

Notable Absences

Kawhi Leonard missed the game with a right ankle sprain.
James Harden sat out for personal reasons, despite averaging 23.3 points per game this season.

New Addition for Phoenix

Green, who joined the Suns from Houston in the offseason as part of a seven-team trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Rockets, played 23 minutes. He shot 10-for-20 from the field and 6-for-13 from three-point range after missing the Suns’ first eight games due to a hamstring strain.

"The Suns beat a Clippers team that was playing without stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, 115-102."

Author’s Summary

The Clippers’ lack of depth and lingering injuries proved costly as Phoenix capitalized on a strong third quarter to hand Los Angeles its third consecutive defeat.

Los Angeles Daily News — 2025-11-07