Suns Suffer Demoralizing 1st Half Against Clippers

Tuesday night at Footprint Center evoked memories of Game 7 in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals against the Mavs, as the Suns encountered a comprehensive dismantling by the Clippers in the first half, trailing 66-33.

Never holding a lead from the opening whistle, the Suns struggled even as LA dealt with the absences of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers initiated the game with a commanding 17-2 run.

Both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker started with 0-5 shooting, contributing to Phoenix’s meager 10-point first quarter (compared to 37 for the Clippers). By halftime, the Suns’ “Big Three” had collectively gone 4-25 from the field, accompanied by five turnovers.

Struggling from deep, the Suns managed to sink only one three-pointer, ending the half with an embarrassing 1-9 shooting performance. In stark contrast, the Clippers found success from beyond the arc, going 9-15.

At one point, the Clippers‘ lead surged to a staggering 37 points, prompting boos from the home crowd at the Suns’ arena.

Missing Jusuf Nurkic, the Suns were outmatched on the boards, succumbing to a 36-16 deficit in the rebound battle.

Unless Phoenix stages a historic comeback, they are poised to fall to 7th place in the Western Conference standings.