Devin Booker’s 40 points and Kevin Durant’s 18 sparked the Phoenix Suns’ comeback win at the Los Angeles Clippers, 125-119 Thursday.
This was the Suns’ third consecutive win, and second straight over the Clippers (2-3) since their season-opener on Oct. 23.
L.A.’s James Harden almost clipped a triple-double as he finished with 23 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Their starting big Ivica Zubac had the team-high 22 points and game-high 12 rebounds.
After a disastrous first half, the Suns (4-1) drained 12 of their 18 from the arc and shot 60% in second half, and overcame a 21-point margin early in the third quarter.
They got their first lead of the game, 96-95, on the fourth made trey by rookie Ryan Dunn (16 points, 6-of-10 FG, 4-for7 from 3), who started for the injured Bradley Beal. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer went with his small-ball lineup in the closing minutes, and Royce O’Neale (career-high 21 points, six rebounds, one steal, one block off the bench) capped off a 16-5 scoring run on a fast-break layup after he stripped Harden, which extended the Suns’ biggest lead to eight shortly after three minutes left.
The Suns return home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Booker, Durant lead Suns comeback in 3rd
Phoenix shot 16-of-20 including 7-of-11 to trim L.A.’s lead to 93-91 on a huge surge in the third quarter.
The Clippers extended their lead to 21 from three straight buckets by Ivica Zubac within the first minute-plus. Then the Suns came alive thereafter behind Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, and outscored the Clippers 35-14 and tied the game on a triple by Royce O’Neale at 3:16 left.
Booker put up 12 of his 27 points to lead all scorers, and Durant got eight of his 18 during that stretch.
Suns still out of sync in 2nd quarter
L.A. continued dominating the Suns entering the intermission, leading 70-52.
Devin Booker scored eight of his total 15 points during the Suns’ 16-7 surge to open the second quarter. That cut the Clippers’ lead to eight at 8:33 left in the half, but the Clippers struck back and eventually inflated the deficit to 18 in the closing seconds.
The Suns are being outscored 36-18 in the paint and 11-5 in fast-break points, outhustled 33-15 on rebounds including 12-5 in offensive rebounds, and the Clippers have seven blocks to the Suns’ one.
Phoenix’s other top contributors include Kevin Durant’s 10 points and Ryan Dunn’s nine (all on 3s). The Clippers’ James Harden already has a double-double with 13 points with 10 assists, two blocks and two steals, and sharpshooter Norman Powell has 15 points.
Harden, Clippers put Suns in big 1st-quarter hole
James Harden had 12 points and seven assists to drive L.A. to a 37-20 advantage to close the opening quarter.
Kevin Durant leads Phoenix with six points.
The Clippers reached their largest lead 19 on a 16-3 run after several players from the Suns’ second unit came in at 4:50 left. The Suns committed four turnovers, which the Clippers converted to eight points.
Dunn replacing injured Beal in Suns starting lineup
Suns rookie swingman Ryan Dunn will make his second start this season replacing Bradley Beal (elbow) who’s been ruled out. Dunn will open the game with point guard Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic at center.
The Clippers will start James Harden and Norman Powell in the backcourt, Terance Mann at the three, high flyer Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac in the middle.
Suns, Clippers injury reports
Phoenix starter Bradley Beal (elbow) was likely a game-time decision for Thursday’s game. Backup forward Josh Okogie (hamstring) will be out again and has yet to make his season debut.
L.A. star Kawhi Leonard (knee) and center Mo Bamba (knee) remain out. Veteran forward P.J. Tucker is no longer with the team moving forward.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Booker’s 40 leads Phoenix Suns to 3rd straight win at LA Clippers
