Game ID: 22400659
LA Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
Monday, January 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 34 26 23 28 111LAC 30 17 31 31 109
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 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 5 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 37 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (81% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (120% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 32)
OUT Nurkić missed 6 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 38 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 39 since 10/28, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Nurkić missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 11 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 12)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 30 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 0 min since (2% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (12% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/01 · back-to-backOUT Nurkić missed 12 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 13 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
LAC availability going into 1/20 · back-to-backBACK Bamba back 1/08 after 2, 13 min since (102% of 13)
LAC availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 1/19, returns tonight: 17 min (151% of 11)
LAC availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Zubac missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 29 min (89% of 33)
OUT Leonard missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 24 min (73% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 1/22 after 2, 17 min since (151% of 11)
NEW Coffey 24 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 2 since 1/22, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 1/23 after 2, 29 min since (89% of 33)
BACK Leonard back 1/23 after 2, 24 min since (73% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 1/22 after 2, 17 min since (151% of 11)
NEW Coffey 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 20 to 27 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 3 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 1/23 after 2, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Leonard back 1/23 after 2, 24 min since (74% of 33)
NEW Coffey 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Jones Jr. 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Mann 20 to 25 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 4 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 1/23, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 11)
BACK Zubac back 1/23 after 2, 31 min since (93% of 33)
BACK Leonard back 1/23 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 33)
NEW Coffey 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Jones Jr. 24 to 31 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 5 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 1/23 after 2, 31 min since (95% of 33)
BACK Leonard back 1/23 after 2, 26 min since (80% of 33)
BACK Miller back 1/29 after 3, 1 min since (10% of 11)
NEW Coffey 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Jones Jr. 24 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 6 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 1/29, not on tonight's roster
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 1/23 after 2, 32 min since (95% of 33)
BACK Leonard back 1/23 after 2, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Miller back 1/29 after 3, 1 min since (8% of 11)
NEW Jones Jr. 24 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Dunn missed 7 since 1/22, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 24)
OUT Hyland missed 6 since 1/23, returns tonight: 7 min (63% of 11)
BACK Miller back 1/29 after 3, 1 min since (8% of 11)
NEW Jones Jr. 24 to 31 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 27 a game. Without Nurkić (9 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Dunn (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 18 and the arc, Phoenix at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Phoenix 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/18 @ DET 125-121 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-121. PHX shot 50% (43 of 86) to DET's 47%, 7 of 25 from three. Durant led with 36 (13 of 27, 2 of 8 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Booker added 35, Richards 21. The hinge was Q3, 37-35: a lead of 1 became 3. Richards was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/20 @ CLE 92-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 92-118. PHX shot 47% (36 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 23. PHX turned it over 17 times to CLE's 8, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 34-50 against them. Durant led with 23 (9 of 16); Booker added 15, Jones 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Richards's -26 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 @ BKN 108-84 — PHX notes
PHX won 108-84. PHX shot 48% (42 of 88) to BKN's 37%, 14 of 41 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to BKN's 16. Booker led with 32 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three); Durant added 24. The hinge was Q1, 28-16: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 28. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/25 vs WAS 119-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-109. PHX shot 44% (40 of 90) to WAS's 47%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 9 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 53-37 for them. Durant led with 29 (11 of 19, 5 of 8 from three); Beal added 20, Richards 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/27 vs LAC 111-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 111-109. PHX shot 47% (40 of 85) to LAC's 49%, 22 of 47 from three, and got to the line 11 times to LAC's 20. Booker led with 26 (9 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Durant added 24, Allen 18. The hinge was Q2, 26-17: a lead of 4 became 13. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/29 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nurkić (10 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without DiVincenzo (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 112, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/31 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wiggins at 22 and Curry at 17 a game. Without Green (6 straight), Kuminga (13 straight), Waters III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 24 a game. Without Nurkić (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 114, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Avdija at 20 and Simons at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Thybulle (48 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 26 a game. Without Nurkić (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18 and the defense, Portland allowing 99 a night to Phoenix's 106. Call it Portland 112, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/03 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 31 free throws a game; Ayton at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thybulle (49 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the defense, Portland allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Portland 114, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/20 vs CHI 99-112 — LAC notes
LAC lost 99-112. LAC shot 39% (37 of 94) to CHI's 40%, 9 of 42 from three, and got to the line 17 times to CHI's 26. The glass went 40-54 against them. Powell led with 27 (9 of 22, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Harden added 17, Jones Jr. 12. Q2 was theirs, 32-23, turning a 7-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-67 against them. Harden's -31 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 vs BOS 113-117 — LAC notes
LAC lost 113-117 in 1 overtime. LAC shot 52% (47 of 90) to BOS's 46%, 9 of 28 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 20. Jones Jr. led with 29 (12 of 20, 4 of 7 from three); Porter Jr. added 26, Coffey 24. Q3 was theirs, 25-21, turning a 1-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 96-88 against them.
1/23 vs WAS 110-93 — LAC notes
LAC won 110-93. LAC shot 45% (40 of 88) to WAS's 34%, 13 of 38 from three. Powell led with 22 (9 of 18, 2 of 10 from three); Jones Jr. added 19, Harden 17. The hinge was Q2, 33-21: a lead of 10 became 22, and the lead reached 27. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/25 vs MIL 127-117 — LAC notes
LAC won 127-117. LAC shot 45% (44 of 97) to MIL's 47%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 28 times to MIL's 34. LAC turned it over 6 times to MIL's 13. Harden led with 40 (12 of 24, 4 of 10 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Powell added 33, Leonard 18. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: a lead of 1 became 10. LAC trailed 58-59 at the half and won the second half 69-58. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/27 @ PHX 109-111 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-111. LAC shot 49% (41 of 83) to PHX's 47%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 20 times to PHX's 11 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. Zubac led with 25 (12 of 17); Harden added 24, Powell 23. Q3 was theirs, 31-23, the deficit cut from 13 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 88-78 against them. Porter Jr.'s -19 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 19 a game. 3 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Dunn (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 110 a night to San Antonio's 129 and the arc, San Antonio at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 30. Call it the Clippers 115, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/31 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Mar. Williams at 21 a game. Without Gra. Williams (28 straight), Mann (29 straight), Salaün (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. Without Dunn (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Charlotte minus-0 and the line, where Charlotte takes 26 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it the Clippers 111, Charlotte 109, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/02 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barnes at 23 and Barrett at 17 a game. Without Mogbo (6 straight), Lawson (5 straight), Battle (5 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 23 a game. They have won the glass by 9 a night. Without Dunn (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-9 a night and Toronto plus-1. Call it Toronto 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/04 vs LAL — 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 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 28 and Harden at 25 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Dunn (7 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 54 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 27 a game. Without Reddish (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACAC A. Coffey
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KL K. Leonard
KP K. Porter Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
TM T. Mann
PHXBB B. Beal
DB D. Booker
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
LAC/PHX 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
Devin Booker scores 26 and the Suns survive a late scare to beat the Clippers 111-109
PHOENIX -- — Devin Booker scored 26 points, Kevin Durant added 24 and the surging Phoenix Suns survived a late scare for a 111-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
The Suns had a 103-90 lead with 5:06 left after Durant's 3-pointer, but the Clippers went on a late 10-0 run, cutting the deficit to 107-106 on Norman Powell’s short jumper with 40 seconds remaining.
Phoenix's Grayson Allen made two free throws with 10 seconds left for a 111-107 advantage, which was enough to close out the win.
The Suns have won nine of their last 12. Allen scored 18 off the bench while Tyus Jones added 17. Phoenix tied a season high with 22 3-pointers, making 46.8% of its shots from long range.
Ivica Zubac had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers. James Harden added 24 points and 10 assists, while Powell scored 23 points.
Los Angeles trailed 60-47 at halftime, but erased that deficit less than seven minutes into the third quarter, taking a 66-65 lead on Kawhi Leonard 's one-handed jam. The Suns recovered to take an 83-78 advantage into the fourth.
Takeaways Clippers: Los Angeles almost pulled out a stunner after trailing for the majority of the night. They did a lot of things right, but couldn't quite overcome the Suns' 3-point barrage.
Suns: It was a nice win despite the shaky moments during the final few minutes. Phoenix has sometimes struggled to generate 3-point opportunities this season, but had 47 shots from long range on Monday.
Key moment Allen missed a free throw on purpose with 1.3 seconds left and the Clippers out of timeouts. Powell's full-court heave at the buzzer was way off.
Key stat Booker and Jones both made five 3-pointers for the Suns.
Up next The Clippers are at the Spurs on Wednesday. The Suns host the Timberwolves on Wednesday.