Game ID: 22301156
LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 10 23 35 24 92LAC 37 29 18 21 105
LAC @ PHX ScoutingLAC @ 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.
PHX availability going into 4/01 · 2 days' restBACK Okogie back 3/23 after 10, 12 min since (75% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 3/23 after 10, 12 min since (75% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 3/29 after 2, 9 min since (57% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 3/29 after 2, 9 min since (57% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backBACK Okogie back 4/05 after 2, 3 min since (17% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 4/05 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restBACK Okogie back 4/05 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 16)
PHX availability going into 4/20 · 5 days' rest
full strength
LAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 18 min (106% of 17)
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 3/27, returns tonight: 8 min (55% of 14)
OUT Boston missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 21 min (212% of 10)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 22)
LAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 3 since 3/29, returns tonight: 17 min (111% of 15)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 19 min since (87% of 22)
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (102% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (100% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 5 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Theis missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 10 min (57% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (100% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 11 min since (78% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Harden missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 10 min (29% of 35)
OUT Leonard missed 6 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/10 after 2, 10 min since (57% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 17 min since (114% of 15)
NEW Westbrook 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Coffey 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 23 min over the last 3
NEW Boston 10 to 16 min over the last 3
LAC availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 7 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Harden back 4/12 after 2, 10 min since (29% of 35)
BACK Theis back 4/10 after 2, 18 min since (108% of 17)
NEW Coffey 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 24 min over the last 4
NEW Boston 10 to 18 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restOUT Leonard missed 8 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Harden back 4/12 after 2, 10 min since (29% of 35)
BACK Theis back 4/10 after 2, 22 min since (129% of 17)
NEW Coffey 21 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Plumlee 14 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Boston 10 to 24 min over the last 4
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 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 29 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Powell at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Leonard (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it Phoenix 113, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/01 @ NOP 124-111 — PHX notes
PHX won 124-111. PHX shot 49% (43 of 87) to NOP's 47%, 18 of 47 from three. The glass went 49-37 for them. Booker led with 52 (19 of 28, 8 of 16 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Durant added 20, Nurkić 19. The hinge was Q1, 46-28: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Nurkić was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
4/03 vs CLE 122-101 — PHX notes
PHX won 122-101. PHX shot 51% (44 of 87) to CLE's 47%, 18 of 33 from three. Booker led with 40 (13 of 25, 5 of 9 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Durant added 32, O'Neale 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/05 vs MIN 97-87 — PHX notes
PHX won 97-87. PHX shot 43% (33 of 76) to MIN's 39%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 29 times to MIN's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. Allen led with 23 (6 of 14, 4 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Durant added 22, Beal 14. The hinge was Q1, 32-20: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
4/07 vs NOP 105-113 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-113. PHX shot 45% (39 of 87) to NOP's 47%, 14 of 39 from three. Beal led with 33 (13 of 19, 7 of 8 from three); Booker added 25, Durant 23. Q1 was theirs, 26-19, but the other 3 periods went 94-79 against them. They led by as many as 13. Durant's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/09 vs LAC 92-105 — PHX notes
PHX lost 92-105. PHX shot 34% (30 of 89) to LAC's 47%, 8 of 35 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 11 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. PHX turned it over 8 times to LAC's 18. The glass went 38-63 against them. Durant led with 21 (8 of 22, 2 of 5 from three); Beal added 19, Booker 12. Q3 was theirs, 35-18, the deficit cut from 33 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 87-57 against them. Eubanks's -20 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 @ LAC — 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 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 24 and Harden at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (5 straight), Theis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it the Clippers 112, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/12 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Fox at 31 and Murray at 16 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-3 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 103 a night to Sacramento's 109. Call it Phoenix 112, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
4/14 @ 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 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Gobert at 16 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Beal at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 104 a night to Minnesota's 111. Call it Minnesota 112, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/20 @ 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 117, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Gobert at 19 a game. 5 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Beal at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 5 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to Minnesota's 117 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-1 a night and Phoenix minus-5. Call it Minnesota 114, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/02 @ SAC 95-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 95-109. LAC shot 41% (31 of 76) to SAC's 42%, 11 of 27 from three. LAC turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10, and SAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 38-56 against them. Westbrook led with 20 (7 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); George added 18, Powell 17. Q4 was theirs, 25-18, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 91-70 against them. Coffey's -18 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 vs DEN 102-100 — LAC notes
LAC won 102-100. LAC shot 38% (34 of 90) to DEN's 43%, 7 of 33 from three, and went to the line 32 times to DEN's 25 — 27 points from the stripe to their 17. LAC turned it over 6 times to DEN's 13. George led with 28 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Harden added 20, Zubac 14. The hinge was Q2, 33-18: LAC came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 4. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/05 vs UTA 131-102 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-102. LAC shot 56% (51 of 91) to UTA's 38%, 13 of 35 from three, and got to the line 18 times to UTA's 29. Mann led with 19 (8 of 9); Powell added 18, Westbrook 17. The hinge was Q1, 41-16: from level to 25 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Mann was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
4/07 vs CLE 120-118 — LAC notes
LAC won 120-118. LAC shot 49% (41 of 84) to CLE's 48%, 14 of 35 from three. The glass went 48-36 for them. George led with 39 (10 of 24, 3 of 9 from three, 16 of 16 at the line); Harden added 22, Mann 14. The hinge was Q4, 34-20: LAC came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 2. LAC trailed 59-80 at the half and won the second half 61-38. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
4/09 @ PHX 105-92 — LAC notes
LAC won 105-92. LAC shot 47% (41 of 87) to PHX's 34%, 12 of 26 from three, and got to the line 11 times to PHX's 28. LAC turned it over 18 times to PHX's 8, and PHX turned those into 16 steals. The glass went 63-38 for them. George led with 23 (7 of 15, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Mann added 17, Zubac 17. The hinge was Q1, 37-10: from level to 27 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/10 vs PHX — 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 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 24 and Harden at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (5 straight), Theis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it the Clippers 112, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
4/12 vs UTA — 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 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Harden at 18 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. Without Harden (2 straight), Leonard (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Horton-Tucker at 17 and Sexton at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and Utah minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Utah's 122. Call it the Clippers 120, Utah 109, the Clippers by 11.
4/14 vs HOU — 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 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; George at 22 and Hyland at 17 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. Without Leonard (7 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; VanVleet at 29 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and Houston minus-7 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Houston's 121. Call it the Clippers 117, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
4/21 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; George at 24 and Hyland at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (8 straight). 6 days' rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 30 a game. Without Dončić (2 straight), Irving (2 straight), Lively II (8 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 21 free throws a game to the Clippers' 16. Call it the Clippers 115, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
EG E. Gordon
GA G. Allen
IT I. Thomas
KD K. Durant
NL N. Little
RO R. O'Neale
TY T. Young
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
IZ I. Zubac
KB K. Brown
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 build 31-point lead in first quarter and hold on late to beat Suns 105-92
PHOENIX -- — Russell Westbrook had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists for his first triple-double of the season and 199th of his career, and the Los Angeles Clippers built a 31-point lead in the first quarter before holding on late for a 105-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
The Clippers clinched a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title with the victory.
It was an embarrassing early showing for the Suns, who are fighting to stay out of the Western Conference play-in tournament. They eventually rallied to cut the margin to 91-84 with 6:45 left on Bradley Beal 's free throw, but couldn't get closer.
The Clippers — who were playing without All-Stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard — have won four straight and seven of eight. They host the Suns on Wednesday in the second game of the home-and-home series.
“Our will to win was great,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We came out with a defensive mindset, we were really physical, offensively we were clicking. This is a hell of a win against a really good team.”
Paul George led Los Angeles with 23 points while Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 13 rebounds. All five starters scored in double figures.
Westbrook had a standout game in his first start since November.
“No surprise on my end because I know I prepare very well," Westbrook said. “I take a lot of time to prepare for games, no matter how much time on the floor. I'm grateful for my teammates, believing in me.”
Phoenix shot just 2 of 19 from the field in the opening quarter as boos became progressively louder from the home crowd. Los Angeles built a 35-4 lead in less than 10 minutes, when Phoenix went nearly six minutes without scoring.
Fans sarcastically cheered when Devin Booker hit two free throws to stop the drought.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 21 points while Beal had 19. Booker finished with 12, shooting just 1 of 11 from the field.
The Clippers continued to build their lead in the second. Bones Hyland hit a 3-pointer that made it 51-14 — which was the largest lead of the night — and Los Angeles took a 66-33 lead into the halftime break.
Booker, Durant and Beal combined to shoot 4 of 25 from the field before the break. The Suns have dropped two straight.
“We got some good looks early, we missed them,” Booker said. “They were hot and that's a bad combination for us.”
Phoenix showed some life in the third quarter, cutting the margin to 84-68 heading into the fourth. Coach Frank Vogel elected for a five-guard lineup for most of the second half, hoping the Suns could shoot their way back into the game.
It actually worked for a while, but they couldn't overcome 8-of-35 shooting (23%) from 3-point range.
Both teams were short-handed, though the Clippers were in worse shape. Los Angeles was missing Harden (foot) and Leonard (knee). Phoenix was playing without starting center Jusuf Nurkic , who has a sprained right ankle.
It was the final home game of the season for the Suns, who close the regular season with three road games against the Clippers, Kings and Timberwolves.