INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jalen Green only played seven minutes before re-injuring his hamstring, but regardless, the Phoenix Suns controlled the tempo against the Los Angeles Clippers. LA came out slow from 3-point range and fell 114-103 to the Suns on Saturday.
Without Kawhi Leonard for the third consecutive game, the Clippers struggled to defend the perimeter. Head coach Tyronn Lue announced pregame that Leonard would be out for the new stretch with an ankle sprain, thinning LA’s depth and starpower in the lineup.
John Collins was a bright spot off the bench for LA, scoring 19 points on an efficient 8-for-12 shooting clip, but it wasn’t enough. Derrick Jones Jr. struggled in the starting five, scoring 7 points, and James Harden could hardly buy a 3-pointer, shooting 2-of-10 from deep range.
Ivica Zubac led LA with 21 points and 15 rebounds. After a few quiet games offensively against the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, Zubac’s presence was vital against Phoenix.
The Clippers will host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday next. Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner was at Intuit Dome for the game and broke it down on Unclipped, TOT’s Clippers podcast.