In an impressive display of talent, Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a commanding victory over the Phoenix Suns with a final score of 117-93 on Sunday night. This win is particularly noteworthy as the Clippers played without the presence of James Harden, who was absent due to personal matters.
Leonard, who notably did not make the Western Conference All-Star reserves announced earlier that day, also contributed eight rebounds to the team's effort, marking his remarkable 27th consecutive game scoring at least 20 points. The Clippers dominated the boards, with Ivica Zubac pulling down an astonishing 20 rebounds, helping the team recover from a previous loss to Denver on Friday. They outperformed the Suns significantly in rebounding, hitting the glass 63 times compared to Phoenix’s 35, and utterly dominating the paint by outscoring them 64-18.
Other key contributors for the Clippers included Jordan Miller, who added 20 points, John Collins with 16 points, Zubac himself scoring 14 points, and Kobe Sanders chipping in 12 points. The Clippers showcased their offensive prowess by shooting an efficient 51.8% from the field. Sanders stepped up to fill the gap left by Harden’s absence.
Since a rough start to the season, where they recorded just 6 wins against 21 losses, the Clippers have turned their fortunes around, winning 17 of their last 21 games and now standing just two games below the .500 mark. On the other hand, the Suns, who had enjoyed a three-game winning streak prior to this matchup, have still maintained a strong performance with a record of 15-7 since December 21.
On the Suns' side, Grayson Allen led the charge with 23 points and eight assists, while Dillon Brooks added 22 points. However, the Suns struggled offensively, shooting only 33.3% from the field, resulting in them being held under 100 points for just the sixth time in their last 50 games this season. Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin each contributed 12 points to their total.
It is worth noting that the Suns were missing key players Devin Booker, who is sidelined with a right ankle sprain, and Jalen Green, who is dealing with both a right hamstring and left hip injury. Earlier that day, Booker was named a reserve for his fifth All-Star Game.
This victory marked the end of a competitive season series between the two teams, with each managing to win two games against the other.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, while the Suns will travel to Portland for their next game on Tuesday.
