The Los Angeles Clippers suffered a disappointing defeat against the Phoenix Suns, losing 114-103 on March 2, 2024, at the Intuit Dome. Despite a late rally that saw them reduce an 18-point deficit, the Clippers could not secure a victory, leaving them with a sub-.500 record.
Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue expressed his disappointment after the game, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “We got to play better,” he stated. “We got to do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta look ourselves in the mirror.”
The Clippers have struggled with injuries and lapses in performance, which have hindered their ability to maintain leads or recover from deficits. On this occasion, they nearly managed to avenge their previous loss to the Suns, but ultimately fell short. After trailing 104-96, Kriss Dunn scored to narrow the gap, followed by a technical foul shot from James Harden that brought the score to 104-99.
Ivica Zubac added a dunk, closing the gap to 104-101. However, the Suns responded with a three-point play from Devin Booker, pushing the lead back to eight points at 109-101 with less than three minutes remaining. The Suns’ offensive prowess shone through, as they made 16 of 38 three-point attempts (42.1%) while dominating the boards with a 42-27 advantage.
The Clippers’ shooting from beyond the arc was less impressive, hitting only 30.3% of their three-point attempts but achieving an overall shooting percentage of 53.2%. Zubac led the Clippers with 21 points, while John Collins contributed 19 points and Harden finished with 13 points and 13 assists.
Injury concerns loom large for the Clippers, particularly regarding Bradley Beal, who left the game in the first half due to soreness in his left hip but returned to finish with 12 points. Beal has been dealing with knee and back issues throughout the season, highlighting the fragility of the Clippers’ aging roster.
All-Star point guard James Harden returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to personal reasons. His presence offered some offensive boost, but the Clippers still struggled defensively. The Suns ended the first half with a decisive 13-1 run, taking a commanding 60-46 lead into halftime.
The Clippers managed to cut the Suns’ lead to single digits in the third quarter, thanks to a couple of three-pointers from Beal and contributions from Zubac and Derrick Jones Jr.. However, the Suns quickly countered, regaining control of the game and expanding their lead once more.
Despite Harden’s return, the Clippers faced challenges on both ends of the court. Dylan Brooks, returning from a groin injury, scored 16 points for the Suns, while Booker led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
As the season progresses, the Clippers will need to address their defensive shortcomings and injury issues if they hope to compete effectively. With key players like Kawhi Leonard missing games due to a sprained ankle, the team’s depth will be tested in the coming weeks. The Clippers are currently focused on regaining their full roster and finding consistent performance to improve their standings in the league.
