Game ID: 22300511
Phoenix Suns @ LA Clippers
Monday, January 8, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 34 37 30 37 138PHX 31 32 28 20 111
LAC vs PHX ScoutingLAC vs PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAC availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 34 min (99% of 34)
OUT Tucker missed 15 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 25 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 16 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 26 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 17 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 27 since 11/08, returns tonight: 7 min (51% of 14)
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/26, returns tonight: 6 min (47% of 14)
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 18 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 19 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 35 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 20 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (46% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 21 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 22 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 16 min (111% of 14)
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
LAC availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 23 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 16 min since (111% of 14)
PHX availability going into 1/01 · back-to-backOUT Eubanks missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 6 min (36% of 16)
OUT Bates-Diop missed 7 since 12/17, returns tonight: 17 min (109% of 15)
OUT Watanabe missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 6 min (42% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 20 min (186% of 11)
BACK Beal back 12/29 after 5, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Nurkić back 12/27 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Okogie back 12/25 after 5, 10 min since (63% of 16)
NEW Metu 12 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restBACK Beal back 12/29 after 5, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Nurkić back 12/27 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Eubanks back 1/01 after 3, 6 min since (36% of 16)
BACK Okogie back 12/25 after 5, 12 min since (77% of 16)
BACK Bates-Diop back 1/01 after 7, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Watanabe back 1/01 after 2, 6 min since (42% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/01 after 2, 20 min since (186% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Durant missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/29 after 5, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Nurkić back 12/27 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Eubanks back 1/01 after 3, 5 min since (30% of 16)
BACK Bates-Diop back 1/01 after 7, 19 min since (124% of 15)
BACK Watanabe back 1/01 after 2, 6 min since (42% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/01 after 2, 19 min since (181% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Durant missed 3 since 1/01, returns tonight: 36 min (97% of 38)
BACK Beal back 12/29 after 5, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Eubanks back 1/01 after 3, 10 min since (67% of 16)
BACK Bates-Diop back 1/01 after 7, 19 min since (123% of 15)
BACK Watanabe back 1/01 after 2, 7 min since (55% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/01 after 2, 16 min since (153% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 25 min (88% of 28)
BACK Durant back 1/07 after 3, 36 min since (97% of 38)
BACK Eubanks back 1/01 after 3, 11 min since (72% of 16)
BACK Bates-Diop back 1/01 after 7, 18 min since (116% of 15)
BACK Watanabe back 1/01 after 2, 7 min since (55% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/01 after 2, 16 min since (153% of 11)
NEW Metu 12 to 17 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/11 · 2 days' restOUT Bol missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 17 min (162% of 11)
BACK Durant back 1/07 after 3, 36 min since (95% of 38)
BACK Gordon back 1/08 after 2, 25 min since (88% of 28)
BACK Eubanks back 1/01 after 3, 12 min since (78% of 16)
BACK Bates-Diop back 1/01 after 7, 15 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Watanabe back 1/01 after 2, 7 min since (50% of 13)
PHX availability going into 1/14 · 2 days' restBACK Durant back 1/07 after 3, 34 min since (92% of 38)
BACK Gordon back 1/08 after 2, 24 min since (85% of 28)
BACK Bol back 1/11 after 2, 17 min since (162% of 11)
PHX availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restBACK Durant back 1/07 after 3, 35 min since (94% of 38)
BACK Gordon back 1/08 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Bol back 1/11 after 2, 17 min since (162% of 11)
PHX availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Goodwin missed 2 since 1/14, returns tonight: 4 min (29% of 14)
OUT Watanabe missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Durant back 1/07 after 3, 36 min since (96% of 38)
BACK Gordon back 1/08 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Tucker (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Beal at 21 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-7 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 36. Call it the Clippers 115, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/01 vs MIA 121-104 — LAC notes
LAC won 121-104. LAC shot 59% (47 of 80) to MIA's 42%, 14 of 29 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 29. Leonard led with 24 (10 of 19, 2 of 5 from three); George added 23, Powell 22. The hinge was Q2, 36-23: LAC came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 1, and the lead reached 22. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
1/03 @ PHX 131-122 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-122. LAC shot 55% (42 of 76) to PHX's 53%, 18 of 34 from three, and went to the line 32 times to PHX's 26 — 29 points from the stripe to their 23. George led with 33 (8 of 14, 5 of 10 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Leonard added 30, Harden 22. The hinge was Q1, 35-20: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Mann was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/05 @ NOP 111-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 111-95. LAC shot 49% (40 of 82) to NOP's 36%, 15 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 14 times to NOP's 9, and NOP turned those into 9 steals. George led with 24 (9 of 15, 6 of 10 from three); Leonard added 19, Zubac 15. The hinge was Q2, 30-15: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
1/07 @ LAL 103-106 — LAC notes
LAC lost 103-106. LAC took 9 more shots (91 to 82), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to LAL's 51%, 14 of 37 from three. LAC turned it over 14 times to LAL's 19. George led with 22 (8 of 18, 4 of 11 from three); Zubac added 22, Harden 15. Q1 was theirs, 24-19, but the other 3 periods went 87-79 against them. Westbrook's -12 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 vs PHX 138-111 — LAC notes
LAC won 138-111. LAC shot 62% (53 of 85) to PHX's 49%, 15 of 29 from three, and got to the line 23 times to PHX's 29. The glass went 44-25 for them. George led with 25 (10 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Harden added 19, Zubac 19. The hinge was Q4, 37-20: a lead of 10 became 27, and the lead reached 30. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/10 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (20 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (7 straight), Freeman-Liberty (35 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Toronto's 123 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and Toronto plus-0. Call it the Clippers 121, Toronto 114.
1/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 25 and Morant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gilyard (7 straight), Rose (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Memphis's 38 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 114, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.
1/14 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Edwards at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to Minnesota's 38. Call it Minnesota 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/16 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Tucker (23 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it the Clippers 117, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
1/01 vs POR 109-88 — PHX notes
PHX won 109-88. PHX shot 48% (38 of 80) to POR's 41%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 47-36 for them. Beal led with 21 (8 of 16, 1 of 3 from three); Nurkić added 18, Metu 14. The hinge was Q2, 35-18: PHX came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 26. Beal was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/03 vs LAC 122-131 — PHX notes
PHX lost 122-131. PHX shot 53% (42 of 79) to LAC's 55%, 15 of 35 from three, and got to the line 26 times to LAC's 32. Booker led with 35 (11 of 15, 5 of 8 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Beal added 21, Gordon 16. Q4 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 16 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 107-91 against them. Allen's -19 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs MIA 113-97 — PHX notes
PHX won 113-97. PHX shot 51% (44 of 87) to MIA's 41%, 14 of 35 from three. PHX turned it over 9 times to MIA's 15. Allen led with 31 (11 of 19, 9 of 14 from three); Beal added 25, Booker 20. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: a lead of 7 became 19. Beal was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/07 vs MEM 115-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 115-121. PHX shot 45% (46 of 102) to MEM's 44%, 8 of 28 from three. PHX turned it over 12 times to MEM's 17. Booker led with 24 (9 of 17, 2 of 6 from three); Durant added 23, Nurkić 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-26, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. They led by as many as 13. Bates-Diop's -15 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 @ LAC 111-138 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-138. PHX shot 49% (38 of 77) to LAC's 62%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to LAC's 23 — 25 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 25-44 against them. Durant led with 30 (10 of 17, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Booker added 20, Beal 15. Q3 was theirs, 28-30, but the other 3 periods went 108-83 against them. Booker's -31 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/11 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 29 and James at 25 a game. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Vincent (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Beal at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to the Lakers' 33. Call it the Lakers 116, Phoenix 115, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/14 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 127, shooting 39 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grant at 18 and Simons at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Ayton (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 24 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-4 a night and Portland minus-10 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 119 a night to Portland's 127. Call it Phoenix 118, Portland 111.
1/16 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 23 a game. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sabonis at 23 and Fox at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/19 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and McCollum at 18 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 44 percent from three to Phoenix's 38 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 13 times a game to New Orleans's 10. Call it New Orleans 120, Phoenix 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
CM C. Metu
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
JG J. Goodwin
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KB K. Bates-Diop
KD K. Durant
NU Nurkic
SL S. Lee
YW Y. Watanabe
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
PHX/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Clippers rout Suns 138-111 for 2nd time in 5 days behind George and Zubac
LOS ANGELES -- — Paul George scored 25 points, Ivica Zubac added 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 138-111 for the second time in five days on Monday night.
James Harden had 19 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists for the Clippers, who won 131-122 in Phoenix last Wednesday and have won six of seven overall. Kawhi Leonard added 17 points.
The Clippers were coming off a three-point loss to the Lakers on Sunday that snapped their five-game winning streak.
“Losing that game really woke us up,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Offensively, the ball moved and we created easy shots for one another.”
The Clippers scored 100 points through three quarters.
“This team is full of vets,” Leonard said. “We just got to throw that game away and come out next game with a better mindset.”
Kevin Durant scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half for the Suns. They dropped their second in a row playing in a back-to-back. Devin Booker finished with 20 points and Bradley Beal had 15 points.
George and Harden had 15 points apiece in the first half when the Clippers shot a season-best 67% to lead 71-63 at the break. The Suns shot 51% but never led by more than five points.
The Clippers stretched their lead to 15 points in the third, when they made six 3-pointers by four different players. For the game, they shot 62% and had all five starters in double figures.
Zubac shot 8 of 9 from the floor, had eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.
“Right now we're playing at a high level and everyone is confident,” he said.
Grayson Allen and Durant, the NBA’s top two 3-point percentage shooters, were a combined 4 of 9 from long range.
Last week's game was a contentious one in which both teams complained about the officiating. This time it was all about getting shots up.
The Clippers shot 53 of 85, made 15 3-pointers and hit 17 of 23 free throws. They controlled the boards 44-25 and outscored the Suns in the paint 62-42 while improving to 15-4 at home.
“They got three Hall of Famers that are really hard to guard,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “They got a complete team.”
The Clippers dominated the fourth, opening with a 17-5 run including 15 in a row, to go up 118-96. Five different players scored, including Norman Powell who finished with 14 points off the bench.